‘We are the forgotten suburbs’: Shellharbour councillors row over mowing schedule
Shellharbour councillors concluded an otherwise sociable meeting by engaging in a fiery exchange regarding the city’s mowing schedule
Illawarra Star
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Shellharbour Council teed off late in its monthly meeting on Tuesday night with one councillor accusing another of political grandstanding over a notice of motion regarding lawn mowing.
Councillor John Davey tabled the notice of motion calling for a staff report on the city’s mowing schedule, asking for, among other things, a colour-coded map to be prepared to compare suburbs.
The Labor councillors took exception to the notice arguing it was an inappropriate time to be demanding a report given the strain maintenance staff are under given the ongoing wet weather and Covid impacts.
“I understand the intent, but I think it’s insensitive at best and political grandstanding at worst,” councillor Rob Petreski said before taking umbrage with Cr Davey foreshadowing the notice on his Facebook page.
Cr Davey said he was “offended” and asked Cr Petreski to withdraw his remarks, to which he declined.
“I am sorry you’re offended, I am not going to withdraw my remarks, but I am sorry you’re offended,” Cr Petreski said before continuing.
“We have had a one in 100 year flood, a one in 100 year pandemic. The time of this is really insensitive. There is nothing wrong with asking for a report, but you could have put in a submission for a council report, this does not need to be put in as a notice of motion.
“To put notice of motions of social media is highly inappropriate as we are the elected members and it shouldn’t be up for a social media debate.”
Cr Petreski’s Labor colleague councillor Maree Edwards said the timing of the notice was counter intuitive.
“It’s hard to say you’re not undermining [maintenance workers] when you want to take them offline to do a report about what they are doing operationally,” she said.
“This is something we could have been briefed on at a different time.”
Cr Davey let out a theatrical sigh before swiping back at the Labor councillors, including Cr Moira Hamilton’s accusation that he hadn’t sought to discuss that matter with them prior to the meeting.
“Cr Petreski, it’s an affront to me to be accused of grandstanding after we went through all of that,” Cr Davey said.
“How dare you accuse me of [not giving prior notice]. Cr Petreski could have had a coffee about it today, but he rebuffed it.
“It’s a matter for me to keep the community informed with what I do. It comes down to transparency. It’s more than about a mowing schedule, it’s also about getting the budgetary impacts.
“I didn’t put it on Facebook to grandstand. The reason I did that is because it’s a hot topic for the community. We (namely Oak Flats and Mt Warrigal) are the forgotten suburbs. We are the forgotten suburbs in terms of this maintenance schedule.
The motion passed with the support of all of the councillors, except the Labor quartet.
Any other business…
CEO’s goodbye
Shellharbour councillors bid farewell to outgoing chief executive Carey McIntyre after more than a decade working for the council – including nearly seven years as the CEO.
Mr McIntyre has overseen a number of pivotal projects in Shellharbour including the construction of the council’s Civic Centre and the Shell Cove Marina.
He was also at the forefront of the council’s objection to amalgamating with Wollongong Council in 2016.
“Mr McIntyre has helped Shellharbour overcome a number of challenges and the city is in a better position for his contributions,” mayor Chris Homer said.
“I wish to thank him personally for allowing for a very smooth and respectful mayoral transition.”
Mr McIntyre also implemented a new “four Cs” model which reflects a focus on the community, customers, councillors and council.
“Implementing this was one of the first things he did,” a Shellharbour staff member told The Illawarra Star.
“Everything we do is to benefit those four Cs.
“He also embarked on a very successful project of changing the culture and finding out core values of collaboration, accountability, integrity, respect and sustainability.
“It’s actually stuck. Every staff member knows and lives those values and it’s all because of him. I’m devastated that he’s leaving.”
Mr McIntyre thanked councillors for their well wishes, adding he would still be keeping a close eye on his hometown council.
“I am very humbled and very honoured to have served you and to serve Shellharbour Council – the city I grew up in,” he said.
“I want to take this opportunity to thank staff for their support and their incredible loyalty and willingness to take a different approach to council.
“I also want to thank the community. They are the one of the four Cs and we are here for the community and all we do is for the benefit of them.
“I truly believe the council’s best days are ahead of us. We have so many prospects for the future. I will remain engaged in the community, my parents have been in this community for 60 years, so I will continue to watch on with a sense of pride and a sense of ownership.”
Mr McIntyre will be heading down the road to take up a new position as a director of “city futures” with the Shoalhaven Council.
Directors Melissa Boxall and Ben Stewart will be acting CEOs for an equally-split period up until July 15.
Council unit with White Ribbon Australia
The council unanimously carried a proposal to enter into a memorandum of understanding with White Ribbon Australia to partner on a community action group pilot project aimed at reducing violence towards women in the city.
The report tabled with the motion highlighted concerning figures from the Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research including rates of reported sexual assaults in Shellharbour sat at 131 per 100,000 people in the year leading up to June, 2021 – a sharp increase from the state average of 80.4.
In the same period, Shellharbour recorded 326 domestic assaults per 100,000 people, compared to the statewide average of 405.
Deputy mayor Kellie Marsh shed a tear while she signalled her endorsement of the proposal.
“It’s everyone’s responsibility to end violence against women and children,” Cr Marsh said.
“I speak from first-hand experience about this. I am not ashamed to speak about this like some would be 20 years ago. I am proud to have got through to the other side.
“I wholeheartedly support this. I am absolutely elated for Shellharbour Council to be invited to be involved in this pilot project.”
By passing the motion, councillors agreed to establish a community action group by June of this year, with the group to develop an action plan which would be put into place mid-2023.
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