‘Personnel matter’ to be dealt with at extraordinary meeting
There will be more than acid sulfate soils on the agenda at this week’s extraordinary council meeting with a ‘personnel matter’ arising that may be closed to the public.
Coffs Harbour
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A ‘personnel matter’ has been listed for discussion at this week’s extraordinary Coffs Harbour City Council meeting.
In the agenda it has been noted that a confidential matter relating to an individual (other than Councillors) may be raised and that the proceedings may be closed to the public.
It states:
A portion of this report is confidential for the reason of Section 10A(2):
- personnel matters concerning particular individuals (other than Councillors),
- and in accordance with Section 10A (1) the meeting may be closed to the public.
The meeting was called by Cr Sally Townley who was ‘shocked’ to learn of the plan to transport acid sulfate soils removed from the Cultural and Civic Space (CCS) construction site to Queensland.
It was going to go to Sawtell but, according to Council’s Heart of Coffs Facebook page, community objection led to an alternative “specialist facility in Queensland” being identified.
But calling on contingency funds so early in the project alarmed many including Dr Townley who said it was an “extremely large cost” to incur on something that had been discussed on multiple occasions and mentioned in several reports.
She raised the matter of an urgent nature to find out “exactly what happened” and to discuss the new plan further, including how the decision on the alternative arrangements was made.
This will be the second extraordinary meeting this year in relation to the controversial CCS which at the latest estimate will cost $81.27 million.
In March, Keith Rhoades, Tegan Swan and Paul Amos brought forward a rescission motion in an attempt to stop the development proceeding, a move that ultimately failed.
The development application for the Gordon St project was approved by the NSW Government in November last year.
The building is due to be finished by the end of 2022.
It will include a new art gallery, museum, council offices and community meeting spaces.
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