Campbelltown Mayor Jill Whittaker bans Morialta Residents’ Association from commenting on her Facebook page
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A local residents’ group has been banned from commenting on an official mayoral Facebook page – all because of an ongoing boundary dispute.
Campbelltown Mayor Jill Whittaker this week banned the Morialta Residents’ Association from commenting on her public social media page.
The move follows heated debate over Campbelltown’s plan to take the suburbs of Rostrevor and Woodforde from Adelaide Hills Council.
Morialta Residents’ Association secretary Steve Swann said his group’s 160 members believed Campbelltown’s push to claim the suburbs was all about money, with the proposed boundary change worth more than $1 million in rate revenue.
His association believed Campbelltown was not listening to residents, with Ms Whittaker attempting to sway opinion.
“The mayor had used a series of photos taken at last weekend’s Rostrevor College Old Scholars Football Club match to not-so-subtly push her council’s boundary change agenda on Facebook,” Mr Swann said.
“She reported that conversations on the sidelines of the football match had focused on the boundary realignment.”
Mr Swann said the post prompted a response from a number of Morialta residents, who reminded Ms Whittaker’s followers that residents had overwhelmingly voted against the rezoning.
“All of these comments by individuals were deleted,” he said.
“The MRA’s own comment was posted – and deleted – three times, before we were finally shunted and banned from commenting.
“Applying a crude gag doesn’t do the Campbelltown Mayor any credit as we should be allowed to rebut our position in a logical, transparent and public manner.”
An Adelaide Hills Council survey found more than 60 per cent of residents were against a rezoning; 80 per cent of whom were Rostrevor residents.
Adelaide Hills Council has asked Campbelltown to withdraw the boundary realignment application.
Ms Whittaker declined to comment on why she chose to ban the association from her page.
“I welcome healthy, civil and constructive discussions on my Facebook page,” Ms Whittaker said.
“Steve Swann has not been blocked and Morialta Residents’ Association has an open offer to discuss their issues with me and the council.
“Campbelltown is seeking boundary realignment to include the rest of Rostrevor and Woodforde because of our long term community of interests and shared geography which includes water management, traffic and facilities.”