Coffs Harbour councillor Rodger Pryce takes leave, Paul Amos uses casting vote

With 4.5 metres of rain at his farm in the last six months one Councillor has taken leave, creating a tie which played out at the first hurdle during a vote on a controversial new campground.

Newly elected Coffs Harbour City Councillor Rodger Pryce has taken leave until the end of September due to the impact of the recent weather on his Brooklana Angus Stud.

Cr Pryce runs 400 cattle on the property and says there has been 4.5 metres of rain in the last six months. He says the average annual rainfall for the area is normally 3 metres.

The farm is located on the remote eastern Dorrigo escarpment, neighbouring the Dorrigo National Park.

He describes it as an unprecedented rain event – with predictions showing next year could be even worse – and if he had known what was in store in the run up to the December 2021 elections he would not have put his hand up.

Crs Tony Judge, Julie Sechi and Rodger Pryce to the left with mayor Paul Amos, deputy mayor Sally Townley and Cr Tegan Swan to the right at the first meeting of the new Coffs Harbour City Council in February. Picture: Janine Watson

Mr Pryce has described the mental strain of lying in bed in the middle of the night, listening to the rain, knowing there are calves who are several months old who’ve never had dry feet and cows dropping new borns into the mud has become too much for him.

His application for leave was supported unanimously at the Coffs Harbour City Council meeting on Thursday evening, July 14.

With him gone that leaves eight councillors and the potential for a tied vote – a situation which plagued the previous council with mayor Denise Knight using a casting vote on a number of occasions.

Ms Knight was heavily criticised for using her casting vote to progress crucial votes on the controversial Cultural and Civic Space (now known as Yarrila Place).

Previous mayor Denise Knight and a concept drawing of Yarrila Place.

During his campaign Mr Pryce was critical of the Gordon Street project, estimated to cost over $80m, which will be home to a new art gallery, museum, library and office spaces.

He still maintains the decision should never have been made to progress with the building which is taking shape in the Coffs CBD and estimated to be completed by the end of this year.

“I still maintain it was a decision that should not have been made – I don’t care who was responsible for it – but that’s in the past and what we have to work out now is how to best manage what the effect is going to be moving forward,” he said.

Immediately after the decision to grant Mr Pryce leave, a vote on a primitive camp ground proposed for the small coastal village of Red Rock was locked in a four/four tie.

Council had received 192 submissions in relation to the proposal with 110 objecting to the plan although the recommendation from staff was to approve it.

Voting was locked with Crs Sally Townley, Tegan Swan, Tony Judge and Jonathan Cassell all against the plan.

Coffs Harbour mayor Paul Amos at the botanic gardens prior to their first meeting on February 10. Picture: Janine Watson

“This is not design excellence, this is ticking the boxes by reaching the very bare minimum,” Dr Townley said during the debate on Thursday night.

Crs Scott Scott Wolgamot, Julie Sechi, George Cecato and Paul Amos voted to approve the concept.

With votes tied Cr Amos used his casting vote to push it through.

Mr Amos was not available for comment on Friday morning but Mr Pryce said if he had been present he would have voted to approve the camp ground.

He has brushed aside concerns about the situation moving forward saying if there are “significant issues of importance to the overall community” he will be able to suspend his leave to participate in voting.

Dr Townley said she was disappointed Mr Pryce has had to take leave so early in the new term.

“It is a shame we find ourselves back in this situation so early in the new term of council but we understand that sometimes people’s lives can take unexpected turns,” she said.