While Bega Valley Shire Council recently voted to support a climate emergency declaration this could be revoked under a move supported by several of its councillors.
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Fifty four councils across Australia have made similar declarations, but it has been confirmed a rescission motion on the Bega shire's one will be debated in the next council meeting.
The original motion, which passed in late August, stated council's upcoming Climate Resilience Strategy recognise a climate emergency and that reports on "relevant strategies, plans or initiatives" must include an assessment of potential climate change impacts.
Cr Robyn Bain is the instigator of the rescission motion, and when speaking to Australian Community Media on Wednesday she said it mainly came down to language.
She said she was concerned the phrase "climate emergency" would alienate members of the community from having an input on the upcoming strategy, so wants to change it to "variable and changing climate patterns".
"'Climate emergency' is divisive within the community," she said.
"If you start off on the basis of divisiveness to try and get the support of the community, then you'll only get a fraction of support.
"[My motion] is not saying one side is wrong, one side is right. The aim of the motion is to bring the whole of the community along with us councillors."
Also, as Cr Tony Allen was absent for the vote on the original motion Cr Bain thought it was important he have his say on the matter due to him being a member of the farming community and having received the highest number of votes out of all the councillors at the last election.
Rescission motions need three signatures to be launched and she is supported by Crs Mitchell Nadin and Russell Fitzpatrick.
The confirmation her motion would be discussed by council came after about 500 people gathered in Bega and 150 in Bermagui on Friday, September 20 to support the Schools Strike 4 Climate campaign.
On Tuesday, Greens councillor Cathy Griff said the main purpose of the climate emergency motion was to say to council the Climate Resilience Strategy should be a priority with strong targets and strong measures.
It encourages council staff to "be robust, be brave" when writing this strategy, she said.
"A climate emergency seems to precisely describe the situation we're in, and that is fully recognised by the comments of the eloquent young people that spoke on Friday," Cr Griff said.
"The number that have written to me personally, as I happened to raise the motion, and said how great council is to have taken a strong action, to learn on that same afternoon there was an attempt to negate it is deeply saddening."
The rescission motion has been criticised within the community including by Climate Action Mobilisation spokesperson Jamie Shaw, who learnt it had been confirmed just after Friday's strike.
"As Bega Valley's young people stood up and showed strong leadership today, some of our so-called elected local leaders have behaved like petulant children," he said on Friday.
"Throwing a massive, vindictive tantrum."
Council's next meeting will be held in its chambers on October 9.
Albert McKnight
Journalist at Bega District News.
Journalist at Bega District News.
