This motion to reaffirm was hurriedly tabled for the September ordinary meeting as a knee jerk reaction to the notice of intent to launch the Save the Trees from 45 Degrees campaign sent to all councillors on September 5.

At no point did councillors ask for the group’s input or seek any community consultation, just continued down their own arrogant path. To placate the “greenies”, included in the recommendation was a policy to have a more proactive compensatory tree planting program but that the “suitable sites to plant new trees would especially be in non-residential locations”.

This compensatory tree planting program is a totally separate matter to the 45-degree exemption rule and should have been a separate motion. This shows the underhand political manoeuvring the “band of seven” will go to to totally ignore the environmental concerns the community has regarding the urban tree canopy.  

I thought local government councillors were supposed to represent the community. It seems not. Surely council has a duty to responsibly manage trees in Shoalhaven residential areas, not just in the best interests of all residents, but also the environment, wildlife, and to minimise climate effect. 

I ask Councillor Proudfoot (who tabled the motion) and all councillors who voted to reaffirm it, the way the 45 degree rule is currently being conducted by council in the Shoalhaven, residents are not required to report to council the number of trees they are removing, council is not checking resident decisions to remove trees, and council is not collecting any data on the number, species or location of trees being removed.

This is a total failure of council's responsibilities to sustainably manage the urban environment. What action is Council going to take to correct this?' 

At the same meeting this “band of seven” environmental wrecking ball group of councillors, disbanded the Sustainable Futures Committee and the Natural Resources and Floodplain Committee.

Having experts and experienced people on a committee appears to threaten some councillors. As a community we want a progressive council and a sustainable plan for a resilient future in the Shoalhaven.

Is it just me or have others noticed a sharp rise in personalised car number plates, or as I like to refer to them, “vanity plates”?

Is it possible that Struggle Street doesn’t exist in the Shoalhaven? Maybe our governments are missing out on a key economic indicator alongside wages growth and interest rates. The Vanity Plate Index might just be a more realistic snapshot. Just when I thought I was doing well I can now see some future PM sincerely committing to eradicating number plate poverty by 2030.

As a result of the latest deadly earthquake and tsunami in Indonesia should not our own Ann Sudmalis on secondment to the UN be of more benefit if she was dispatched to our embassy in Indonesia as a special envoy.

Given reports that we are waiting on a request from Indonesia for assistance could she not be our liaison officer in anticipation of such a request.

I`m sure any assistance would be most appreciated from such a self promoting and skilful politician. 

So what`s it to be PM, 3 months at the UN doing very little or providing a service on behalf of our country in response to the disaster.

A change in plans such as I suggest would surely put to rest the assertion, the Sudmalis UN posting was a holiday in disguise and she was ready to serve,  as she states, when and where required.