Wingecarribee Councillor: Shelley Hancock to seal fate of feuding councillors

One of the state’s most dysfunctional councils has started the new year in limbo as councillors wait to hear if they’ve done enough government-ordered counselling and mediation to stay in office.

One of the state’s most dysfunctional councils has started the new year in limbo as councillors wait to hear if they have done enough NSW government-ordered training, counselling and mediation to keep their jobs.

Plagued by political infighting, the Wingecarribee Council in the Southern Highlands was issued a Performance Improvement Order in September 2020 by Local Government Minister Shelly Hancock.

The order forced councillors to undergo training and mediation to prevent further “long-term division and conflict” and appointed a psychologist as an internal adviser.

Independent mayor Duncan Gair was ordered to undergo additional specific training to “better deal with acts of disorder”.

Local government veteran Ian Reynolds was also brought in to mentor the mayor in meeting procedure.

Wingecarribee Mmayor Duncan Gair has been ordered to undergo training in holding effective meetings.

The council has suffered through years of hostility which has spilt over both inside and outside of its Moss Vale chambers.

When independent Councillor Ian Scandrett appeared on the Ray Hadley show last year he said: “The best fix would be to sack us all.”

Politically the council is divided and locked in a 4-4 split.

However, councillor Peter Nelson said he disagreed.

“Councillor Scandrett is completely wrong as there is not a toxic culture in the council,” he said.

“Councillors have a certain position on every item before council and debate the matter accordingly. Some councillors are a little over enthusiastic about certain items and step over the line sometimes when debating the matter.

“That is not a “toxic culture” and as I have worked for seven councils in my 32 years of local government I know what a “toxic culture” is when I see one and this council does not have one.”

Wollondilly state Liberal MP Nathaniel Smith said the council’s problems were laid bare when it failed to submit to the Bushfire Royal Commission and bungled the Berrima Rd deviation project forcing it to return millions of dollars in federal funds.

There is “a lack of leadership” there, he said.

“The composition of the council needs to change. There needs to be fresh blood.

“This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to capture these grants and I just don’t think

(council) are up to it.”

Locally, the council was slammed when it continued to impose development application fees on the 80 people whose homes were razed during the Black Summer bushfires.

The council is accused of failing residents following the Black Summer bushfires. Picture: Rohan Kelly

The Berrima Rd deviation project

Mr Smith has advocated for a change of leadership in an effort to bring more opportunity to the region saying: “we need new ideas to turbocharge infrastructure and advance manufacturing, among other industries.”

An $18.85 million cash blowout on proposed upgrades to Station St, Bowral, which was originally estimated to cost $9.15 million, was the final straw for The Friends of Bowral community association.

Association vice president Peter Edwards said a lack of community consultation and the eye-watering blowout to a $28 million project were cause for concern.

“We’d like to have a meeting with council but we’ve been told point blank by the council ‘we won’t meet with you’,” Mr Edwards told The Bowral News.

Wollondilly state Liberal MP Nathaniel Smith wants change in the area. Picture: Joel Carrett

The council submitted a final compliance report to the Office of Local Government in November and awaits a formal response to determine if the work it has done is sufficient to continue.

If infighting and conflict at the regional council continue following the completion of the ministerial order, the Local Government Minister has the option to install an administrator and suspend councillors, launch an investigation or public inquiry.

Wingecarribee Council has failed to respond before deadline to several questions asked by The Bowral News.

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An artist’s impression of what Station St, Bowral, would look like after upgrades which have blown out to $28 million.