Amid the general gloom confronting the plantation timber industry it was pleasing to see ITC Limited maintain its bluegum woodchip export price at current levels.

There was a widespread view that prices would fall against the backdrop of the global economic downturn.

The news is expected to provide some relief for investors grappling with the collapse of Timbercorp and Great Southern, which together managed more than 110,000 hectares of Green Triangle blue gum plantations that could be sold off.

Mount Gambier City Council is undertaking a rigorous process to reduce expenditure in a serious effort to lower the 6.2pc projected rate rise that was flagged in the business plan for 2009-10.

Although council hasn't been inundated with written submissions or public attendance at meetings, it is clear that councillors are listening to the community.

There was understandably uproar when the 6.2pc figure was mooted.

The local government CPI (currently 4.2pc) should be the benchmark by which municipal budgets are judged.

Any rate rise above that amount will incur the wrath of those who must pay it.

That's generally not a sensible thing for elected members to do, with an election to be held next year, unless they can sell significant benefits arising from the increase.

It would be "courageous" in fact, as Sir Humphrey Appleby once remarked.

In December last year The Border Watch was a lone voice in seeking a cross-border model for the Federal Government's new agency Regional Development Australia.

We wrote that vision and leadership was required, independent of parochial state interests, to reignite the potential of the Green Triangle as an economic powerhouse of Australia.

Something like Gough Whitlam's kickstart for Albury Wodonga in the 1970s was needed to bring down the iron curtain that exists 30km east of Mount Gambier.

The Rudd Government's tentative, half-hearted and slow efforts to stamp its own brand on regional development was a rare opportunity for politicians and bureaucrats to think laterally, but they fluffed it.

An early consensus of convenience emerged that Regional Development Australia would conform to state boundaries and join with existing state-based agencies where possible.

There's nothing wrong with erasing a layer of bureaucracy, but in Mount Gambier's case economic opportunity and geographic reality were sacrificed in the process.

The Glenelg and Southern Grampians Shires, and possibly West Wimmera, should have been part of the Commonwealth's vision for regional development in the Green Triangle.

Transport, industry, tourism and health don't respect state borders.

The push for an MRI machine in Mount Gambier is one example where authorities look at the population catchment in South Australia while ignoring the border.

As we wrote last year, it would have sent a powerful message that Canberra was serious about forging stronger regional relationships if a new organisation was created to bridge the iron curtain.

Yesterday's RDA announcement confirms the status quo.

Amid the distraction of the "utegate" saga this week, not much attention was paid to the statement by Federal Forestry Minister Tony Burke "Preparing our forest industries for the future".

Delivered in Parliament on Wednesday, Mr Burke outlined the government's vision for the industry in the most significant manner since the election.

Among the rhetoric of "striking a balance" between the environment and industry, it's evident the Labor Government is genuinely committed to plantation forestry.

That's good news for the Green Triangle.

As Mr Burke stated, plantations now account for around two-thirds of Australia’s log production.

He said value-adding has been central to this investment – creating new revenue streams, boosting export earnings and making the industry more competitive.

The National Association of Forest Industries welcomed the minister's speech, particularly the commitment to Regional Forest Agreements, plantations and the proposed Tasmanian pulp mill.

As NAFI pointed out, these policies have been the cornerstone of forest management and plantation development over several years.

There was some concern Labor may feel under pressure from the green movement to withdraw from long-held bipartisan positions.

That doesn't appear to be the case.

The CFMEU focused on the pulp mill issue in its response to the Minister's speech, but described the statement as "unambiguously pro industry and pro jobs".

The disappointing aspect of Mr Burke's speech was not what he said, but what he didn't say.

There was little mention of managed investment schemes and what future, if any, they have in Australian forestry.

Resthaven's investment to build a 97-bed aged care facility in Mount Gambier is terrific news for the city.

The development of the Uniting Church Hall site will expand facilities in the aged care accommodation sector, which itself is a growing industry as the population ages across Australia.

It's a central location, which will benefit residents, and the design is sympathetic to the heritage precinct.

Understandably however, some adjoining business managers have expressed concern about parking issues.

These concerns were respectfully placed before City Council's development assessment panel last week.

The panel ultimately approved the project, including demolition of the hall and tennis courts to enable construction of the two-storey centre.

The development complied with planning requirements and it would have been disappointing if it had been rejected on parking grounds.

That said, parking issues in the CBD need to be addressed.

As business operators have pointed out, it's difficult to obtain a parking space during peak times.

With development proposed for the city's northern gateway, the lack of accessible parking in the CBD could discourage people from going there and disperse businesses to other areas.

While that may inadvertently deliver part of the solution, a more holistic approach is needed.

Traffic management and parking in the city needs a strategic visionary approach.

Whatever was done in the past hasn't worked.

It's time to revisit the whole issue with input from motorists, pedestrians, businesses and planners.

Failure to do so could inhibit the potential for worthy developments, such as that proposed by Resthaven.

The fact a man has been living in his car at the Blue Lake Sports Park for several weeks is a sad indictment on community welfare services.

We hear much about hidden poverty and the fact many people are struggling to make ends meet, but nobody should be living in their car, especially during winter.

This particular man does so by choice, using a doona and his trusty dog to stay warm.

However, society should not allow this state of affairs to exist.

A homeless person's physical and mental wellbeing needs monitoring, at the very least, and appropriate support should be available.

From a community safety point of view, it is not desirable either to have anyone living at a sports park that's not designed to provide residential amenities.

Rather than police or the council move a homeless man on, welfare services should be able to provide an environment where he feels safe and comfortable.

Although anyone may choose to "live rough" there needs to be suitable access to basic facilities, like a shower and washing machine.

Based on this man's experience, a key question surrounds the city's willingness and capability to assist a person on the fringe of normal society.

It's remarkable that no agency has stepped forward to help, which might be as simple as offering a decent meal, a shower, some warm clothes and an extra blanket.

Meanwhile, the man catches rabbits on the oval, sleeps with his dog and watches hockey games.

He's not unapproachable, as The Border Watch discovered.

Mount Gambier is fortunate to have a far-sighted City Council that consults widely and keeps the community informed on topical issues.

The outstanding civic leadership is second to none in Australia.

While other councils dither and seek to balance the books with modest rate rises, Mount Gambier stares down the global economic crisis and increases expenditure with a visionary redevelopment program.

The proposed rate rise of just 6.2pc comes after the local government CPI was measured at 4.2pc in the 12 months to March 31 and the Adelaide CPI was 2.3pc.

Mount Gambier residents are happy to pay rates above the CPI because we applaud and support the city's vision, which was developed with widespread community input.

The city's mayor, fresh from attacking the State Budget, is about to preside over what shapes to be an excellent and responsible municipal budget.

There is no party politics on the Mount Gambier Council, of course. The councillors who belong to the Labor Party and vote Labor no doubt endorsed the mayor's criticism of the Labor Government's budget and will support him in praising the council budget. That's how it should be.

"The council has placed great emphasis on sustainable development, family values, community engagement and protection of the environment to create a city the community will appreciate, enjoy and look to preserve and enhance for future generations."

It says that in the business plan 2009-10 released on Tuesday, so it must be true.

We trust the council to deliver on the vision we helped it create.