FAR from it being all over bar the shouting, Shoalhaven City Council was holding an extraordinary meeting as the Times went to press last night in an effort to resolve two important issues prior to the 40-day caretaker period recommended by the Department of Local Government in the lead up to the September 13 election.
Council, last week was left with out a quorum – enough councillors to vote on an issue – when the majority of councillors present declared a pecuniary interest in the Shoalhaven’s draft LEP (Local Environment Plan), on the basis that they owned houses within the area.
As a result, council last night was voting on a recommendation to delegate authority to the general manager, who has also declared a pecuniary interest in the LEP or, alternatively, to the assistant general manager to deal with.
Cr John Willmott told the Times that he feels the LEP should not be adopted in its current form, concerned that it paves the way for the rezoning of land across the Shoalhaven currently dedicated as Private Open Space.
“This could mean, for instance, that over time we could see the gradual downgrading of the Mollymook golf course, with that land being given over to tourist accommodation.
“And that in not in the best interests of Mollymook.”
The other big item expected to receive plenty of attention at last night’s extraordinary meeting was the Development Control Plan (DCP56) for Ulladulla’s central business district.
Last week’s council meeting saw a public gallery packed with locals who had made the trip up from the Milton-Ulladulla area.
Most were supporting the Ulladulla and Districts Community Forum’s (UDCF) request to defer any decision regarding the DCP until the new council is elected.
However mayor Greg Watson offered a last minute alternative, suggesting to councillors that there was “another way to go”.
The amended DCP was subsequently deferred for consideration until the extraordinary meeting last night.
Joe Hallahan, speaking on behalf of the Forum at last Tuesday night’s meeting, argued that there were still many unresolved issues, including continuing concerns regarding building heights in the town centre and around the harbour.
A week on, and the Forum’s Robyn Watt said there were number of new recommendations from council staff being tabled at last night’s meeting which, if adopted, offered acceptable compromises in response to many community concerns.
However community pressure was still high in regard to a number of issues.
These included the need for inclusion of amendments ensuring a clear, two-story height limitation for buildings around the harbour foreshore and the retaining of ‘open space’ around the Civic Centre, Millard’s Creek and within the town centre.
Mrs Watt said that while the recommended changes didn’t go far enough, Forum members were fearful the DCP would be adopted as exhibited (ie without the recommended changes being discussed last night)
or even worse, with the imposition of greater height and floor space ratios as had been suggested by some people.