Seasoned Kellie Marsh takes out Shellharbour deputy mayor ballot

Former Shellharbour mayor Kellie Marsh is back within one spot of the top job after being elected deputy mayor.

Shellharbour councillor Kellie Marsh won the tightest of ballots to become deputy mayor on Tuesday night.

The open vote was observed by two former mayors in Joan Vinton and Marianne Saliba, the latter who lost December’s mayoral race to political upstart Chris Homer.

The Liberal-turned-Independent defeated Labor councillor Rob Petreski five votes to four.

The deciding vote was that of Mayor Homer who voted in favour of Cr Marsh who has previously been both mayor and deputy mayor.

Shellharbour mayor Chris Homer with newly-elected deputy mayor Kellie Marsh. Picture: Dylan Arvela

“I am absolutely elated with the support I received tonight,” Cr Marsh told The Illawarra Star.

“Some of my colleagues have said I am the nana of council after 11 years in local government. What I love about local government is it’s constantly changing.

“We have some exciting projects on the go. Like many councils we have taken a hit through Covid so I am looking forward to making sure we remain financially stable, we get good services out to the community, but we also get some of these projects up and running.

“We have a great community who have big expectations and they are always bringing a lot to the table so it’s always about trying to find the right balance. I am ready to go.”

Any other business…

CCTV

Mayor Homer and Cr Marsh submitted a motion to explore the installation of more security cameras around the city, including at the new Shell Cove Marina, in an effort to combat anti-social behaviour.

Cr Marsh argued a council officer should prepare a report to ascertain the scope, cost and locations of any potential CCTV installations, adding it should also consider their effectiveness in other local government areas.

“I think it’s important to see what other councils are doing. It’s working quite well in the Shoalhaven,” she said.

“We do have CCTV in our city. You have it at petrol stations, you have it at supermarkets and as a single lady I find it comforting (to have security cameras).

Cr Petreski questioned the push for extra CCTV systems in Shellharbour.

“We won’t want to tie up council resources,” Cr Petreski said.

“CCTV can work really well, but it can also be ineffective.”

Tripoli Way Extension Project

The proposed Tripoli Way Extension Project will cost around $28 million. Picture: Shellharbour Council

Cr Marsh is seeking more community consultations regarding the long-awaited Tripoli Way extension project aimed at reducing congestion in Albion Park.

The Ward A councillor said there needs to be more discussions with the community to alleviate concerns around noise and environmental impacts that could arise from project that will cost in the vicinity of $28 million.

The project would see the extension of Tripoli Way to the Illawarra Hwy and Albion Park Rail bypass in the east to between Calderwood and Tullimbar in the west.

The idea was first mooted in 1961 as part of a long-term strategic plan for the now-burgeoning suburb of more than 13,000 people.

Construction is expected to begin in 2025 and take 24 months.

Committees

Shellharbour Council during the first ordinary council meeting of the new term. Picture: Shellharbour Council

Much of the meeting was dominated by populating committees including the Lake Illawarra Coastal Management Program Implementation Group.

Mayor Homer, Cr John Davey and Cr Lou Stefanovski were appointed unopposed to the group with Maree Edwards to be an alternate delegate.

Cr Davey, who has been involved with the Lake Illawarra Estuarine Committee, said he understands residents‘ concerns about the lake, adding, “I can assure the community a lot of work has been done (via this group) in the last five years.”

The councillors will join four Wollongong City councillors in the group.