IT WAS a trial by fire for the new faces elected to the Bega Valley Shire Council at Tuesday’s ordinary meeting – the first full meeting of the new-look council.
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As well as dealing with big issues such as the Merimbula Airport and a controversial development application, there were also two rescission motions to be discussed followed by a curious conclusion to the meeting with debate over whether to adjourn into closed session.
The supposed confidential matter was to discuss dealings with NBN Co over its proposed use of council land at Wanatta Lane.
However, Cr Keith Hughes questioned the need for the matter to be heard in closed session (exclusion of the public gallery and media personnel) to which general manager Peter Tegart responded saying it was at the request of NBN Co.
“That’s not good enough,” Cr Hughes said.
“We have a responsibility to the public for transparency.”
His thoughts were reiterated by public gallery member David Jesson, who, in an unusual turn of events, was granted the opportunity to petition against the motion to adjourn into closed session.
This is one of the rare opportunities in which members of the public are allowed to address a council meeting once it has started.
“I would encourage council to deal with this matter in open session,” Mr Jesson, an unsuccessful candidate in the recent councillor election, said.
“There is no statutory reason for this to be dealt with in closed session other than at the request of the proponent.”
The Wolumla site in question is where the council’s new Central Waste Facility is proposed to be built.
However, it has been a bone of contention for many years, not least because of nearby residents’ opposition to the tip, but also because of more recent reports that the council agreed to sell part of the site to NBN Co for its installation of a satellite broadband ground station.
“I would’ve thought it appropriate to have public consultation on a proposed second use of the Wanatta Lane site,” Mr Jesson said.
“As there hasn’t been, further discussions should be held in open session.”
The upshot of this debate was that it was decided by majority vote the matter would be dealt with openly and a 10-minute recess was called to source some extra requested attachments to the confidential business papers.
Upon everyone’s return to the council chambers - public and media included - those documents still weren’t available so the councillors voted to defer the matter until the next meeting anyway.
