Shoalhaven Action Campaign

Media Release - 23 July 2008

If, like me, you are constantly amazed by our councillors’ total lack of interest in the community’s concerns, then the upcoming elections in September is the time to set it right.

There’s no point shrugging and thinking “that’s how all councils operate.” They don’t .  It’s simply not normal, not acceptable and not right.
I have watched sadly as so many decisions have been taken contrary to community interests and policy stipulations. But the six-storey Ulladulla CBD decision was the last straw - and the catalyst for public meetings which drew 400, 400 then close to 700 concerned residents , and spawned the formation of the Shoalhaven Action Campaign.

Yet Clr Willmott subsequently attempted to ridicule this strong show of genuine public concern by arguing feebly that such attendance numbers from a population of 8,000 was somehow ” not representative “.  I’ve been to hundreds of community meetings where a bare 30 people would be regarded as a good roll-up.

He also had the bare-faced gall to put a sceptical public right back in its box with this little gem : “Just let us (the councillors ) get on with running the City”

Council wasted a whole 2 years blocking The Ulladulla and Districts Community Forum in Ulladulla from becoming a Principal Consultative Body, as it plainly wants only compliant community input which applauds its decisions. When Council finally did agree to this group , Councillors promptly substituted the descriptor ” Community ” for ” Principal” , and appointed a tame group as a backup. Councillors then moved that both these Community Consultative Bodies (CCBs), or indeed, any in the Shoalhaven area, could be disbanded at their whim if they became “political” , or didn’t agree with council!!!.  Breathtaking contempt , which would be laughable were it not so serious.

Clr Anderson at a collective meeting with committee members of these CCBs told them they would be okay “if they just got on with their knitting”. How’s that for treating your constituency with any respect or credit ?

On top of running roughshod over the community, Council continues with monotonous frequency to override, and lately even deride, the recommendations and advice its own  highly qualified staff - once again only because that advice is not always what they want to hear. Council also moved that even when council staff are addressing development matters under delegated authority, they must deal with them as though they are the “elected council “, not as one would expect by non-partisan and objective compliance with all the relevant regulations.

It is screamingly clear the power has gone to our Councillor’s heads.  At a time when all Councils are under increased scrutiny over the proper dispatch of their duties, with several recently sacked outright for their abject failure to meet anything like decent standards of public administration, you’d have thought this mob might have heard that resounding message . But no such luck.
It’s high time the community elected itself an elected Council that WILL listen .

The Shoalhaven Action Campaign has endorsed candidates in all three wards, including for Mayor. These candidates are committed to:

• meaningful consultation with the community on major developments;
• fair and transparent decision-making;
• appropriate development suited to our coastal location; and
• accepting the professional advice of Council staff and explaining their decision-making where this is not the case.

I  heartily encourage everyone to look at the track record of our existing group of Councillors.  By any objective analysis, this lot has failed even the most basic test of accountability to its electors and ratepayers. They’ve degenerated into an arrogant, out-of-touch rabble, running on empty.

A law unto themselves, for themselves…. and their mates.

So make your vote count. Council elections ARE important, and councils CAN work . It’s all about balance, decency and a genuine desire to represent ALL of the people ALL of the time.

Mark Hurley
Shoalhaven Action Campaign endorsed Candidate for Ward 3