On 22nd December 2021 the NSW Electoral Commission ran preference allocations for positions of Eurobodalla Councillors from the Local Government ballot held on the 4 December, with the following 8 candidates being declared successful:
Amber Schutz and Tanya Dannock (both from Advance Eurobodalla); Rob Pollock and Peter Diskon (both from Group A), Anthony Mayne (The Mayne Team), Tubby Harrison (A Better Council), David Grace (Eurobodalla Labor) and Alison Worthington (The Greens).
Mat Hatcher from Advance Eurobodalla had earlier been elected as Mayor on Monday 20th December. In September 2019 a group of citizens met and formed A Better Eurobodalla (ABE) around shared values and principles that they believe are vital for effective local, state and federal government.
In Eurobodalla they are calling for:
Open, accountable and responsive local, state and federal government.
A council with a sustainable, practical vision that can cost-effectively meet the needs of residents and ratepayers.
Local government that actively and accurately represents Eurobodalla residents’ interests to state and federal government.
Candidates for the 2021 local government election who genuinely listen; who tackle key issues of concern and urgency and who safeguard the interests of all of us.
In their latest newsletter ABE congratulates all successful candidates, and "looks forward to a Council which delivers transparency and accountability in local government, and is committed to listening to the residents and ratepayers of Eurobodalla." ABE offer:
"To help this process of transformation, we have listed below the responses to key governance questions put to candidates from all successful groups at a Meet the Candidate Forum held at Kyla Park, Tuross Head on 15th November. ABE looks forward to these undertakings being reflected in the direction of the new Eurobodalla Council elected on the 4th December 2021. (Further details of the Kyla Park Forum can be found on the ABE website at https://abettereurobodalla.org/eurobodalla-council-election-analysis/).
Candidate Questions & Responses
Question 1
Will you support live streaming of Public Forum and Public Access sessions?
Response
Supported by all except James Thomson
Question 2
Will you support Eurobodalla Shire Council rejoining the NSW Local Government Association?
Response
Supported by all except Alison Worthington
Question 3
Will you support the expanding the role and the resourcing of open Advisory Committees of Council as a way of improving community engagement and expert advice?
Response
Supported by all
Question 4
Will you support expanding the role of Audit, Risk and Improvement Committee of Council to include a formal review function?
Response
Supported by all except Rob Pollock
Question 5
Do you believe that Councillors should personally respond to calls and emails from residents and ratepayers?
Response
Supported by all
Question 6
Given community concerns about development in the shire, will you support Council developing a shire wide plan for sustainable development?
Response
Supported by all.
Question 7
Councillors from neighbouring Councils have the opportunity to talk directly with their constituents through a series of scheduled community meetings. If elected, would you support a similar program of quarterly meetings between Councillors and the community to openly discuss issues relevant to them?
Response
Supported by all.
Question 8
Currently the decision on material amendments to an old DA for the major housing development on the Coila Lake foreshore is delegated to Council staff. Some years ago, Council had made a commitment to the community of Tuross Head to present the DA to Council for determination. Will you support Councillors taking back this delegation and making decisions on all major development applications to ensure community, cultural and environmental impacts are rigorously assessed before proceeding?
Response
Supported by all except Rob Pollock and James Thomson
Question 9
Would you support commissioning an external local government consultant answering to Councillors to review Council’s strategic environment and its operational practices including application of a consistent definition for using ‘commercial in confidence’ and ‘legal privilege’ protocols with a view to maximising community access to information?
Response
Supported by all except Tubby Harrison and James Thomson
