Knitting nannas hold up Mid North Coast council meeting in protest

After the disgraceful scenes at Inner West Council on Tuesday, last night saw another protest about amalgamations, this time at the newly-formed Mid Coast Council’s first meeting.

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PREMIER Mike Baird’s determined bid to overhaul NSW’s dysfunctional local councils hit another roadblock yesterday, as the newly-formed Mid Coast Council was also forced to abandon its first meeting.

The council, formed from the merger of Great Lakes, Taree and Gloucester councils, abandoned its inaugural meeting as “knitting nannas” filled the authority’s chambers and began chanting.

Council administrator John Turner, who is in place to run the authority until elections scheduled for September next year, was forced to adjourn the meeting due to the protest.

Knitting nannas interrupt the first NSW Mid Coast Council meeting. Picture: YouTube / thefrackman1

Angry protesters outside the first meeting of the new Inner West Council. Picture: WestCONnex Action Group

Local Government Minister Paul Toole said security may be boosted at all council meetings if the protests recurred.

“If these kinds of actions continue we will look at what we need to do to clean up local government in NSW,” he said.

Mr Toole defended the state government’s council mergers, denying protesters’ claims that sacking local authorities was damaging democracy.

It was not the only protest against council mergers this week. On Tuesday former UTS student Nicky Minus spat in the face of Inner West Council administrator Richard Pearson amid disgraceful scenes whipped up by Greens and Labor politicians.

Police were called and the meeting was eventually called off as the protest mob vented their anger at the merger and new WestConnex motorway, and jeered loudly as Mr Pearson attempted to read the Welcome to Country.

Ugly scenes as protester Nicky Minus spits on Inner West Council administrator Richard Pearson. Picture: Bryant Hevesi

A protester knocks aside Mr Pearson, spilling his pile of council documents. Picture: Bryant Hevesi

Elections for councils that have been merged are not due to be held until September 2017.

Mayors sacked from the newly-formed Inner West Council called for calm yesterday.

Labor’s Lucille McKenna, Sam Iskandar and Darcy Byrne were dumped from Ashfield, Marrickville and Leichhardt councils.

“We call on all citizens to make sure the administrator of the council and the council’s officers are treated with ­respect,” they said in a joint statement.

“We do not believe it is in the interests of local residents for meetings to be made unworkable.”

Warren’s view.