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Peter Johnston wins Tuross stableford event A great field of 68 players competed at Tuross Head on Saturday August 12th andthe winner on the day was Peter Johnston with 39 points. Congrats to all the place getters on the day. Next Saturday is the last round of the triathlon which is a Par event. Winners PETER JOHNSTON 38, ROSS RICHARDSON 37, NIGEL BARLING 37, TIM DAVIDSON 35, COLIN HOUGHTON 34. Ball Winners Derek HOARE 34, Ross HENDY 33, Greg SMITH 33, Steve COLLINS 33, Ian LAWSON 32, Michael ALLEN 32, John PHYLAND 32, Brad DOOLAN 32, Shane GSCHWEND 32, Peter HOGAN 32, Rick MONOPOLI 32, Ian MILLER 32, Paul COFFEY 32, Stephen GARDNER 32, Simon FRENCH 31, Paul ISRAEL 31, Ian KINGSTON 31, Allan LANGFORD 31, Martin BOOTH 31, Stephen SWANBURY 31. Nearest the Pins A grade: 4th hole James Paton 0.71m, 6th Peter Engelbrecht 1.45m, 7th Ken Hush 2.38m. B grade: 4th Graeme Bell 0.90m, 6th S Gschwend 1.23m, 7th John Phyland 1.72m. C grade: 4th Ross Richardson 0.33m, 6th Peter Coffey 11.41m. Tuross Head County Club medley stableford Thursday August 10 2023 A smaller field of 39 players yesterday with Graeme Bell who is becoming a regular to the winners circle taking out the event with 42 pts. Congrats to all the place getters on the day. Winners GRAEME BELL 42 stableford points, PETER COFFEY 39, LARS GAUPSET 37, WARREN HODDER 36, IAN KINGSTON 35. Ball Winners Ian MILLER 34, Jim MADDEN 34, Colin HOUGHTON 34, Nick BRICE 33, Nigel BARLING 33, Bob THOMAS 33, Ray BOLLARD 33, Tony BROWN 33, Richard BRAKE 33, Paul ISRAEL 33, Jenny REILLY 32, Peter GARN 32. Nearest the Pin A grade: 4th hole Col Houghton 3.46m, 6th Al Gannon 0.11m. B grade: 4th Lars Gaupset 4.56m, 6th Paul Coffey 3.33m, 7th Bruce Harding 10.01m. C grade: 4th Jim Madden 3.51m, 6th Tony Brown 5.13m, 7th Bob Thomas 7.60m. Photo: Paul Ferguson is congratulated by club president David David Schmid. Photos: Graeme Bell, winner of Thursday medley stableford and club captain Nigel Barling. Photos: Courtesy Tony Brown

A Better Eurobodalla (ABE) Presentation to the Eurobodalla Shire Council Public Forum on Tuesday 15th August 2023 – GMR23/031 Review of Bay Pavilions Good Afternoon, Thank you for the opportunity to present to Council. I present as Co-convenor of A Better Eurobodalla (ABE), a community forum working to achieve open, accountable and responsive government in Eurobodalla. My focus today is on agenda item GMR 23/031- Review of Bay Pavilions. ABE, along with other concerned members of the community, have taken a sustained interest in the Pavilions project, with a particular focus on its long term financial implications for Eurobodalla ratepayers. While the 30 page consultant’s report provides a useful snapshot of the current financial problems facing the Pavilions, it does little to illuminate HOW we arrived at this parlous state or WHAT we should do to respond effectively. The report is more notable for what it omits than what it includes. It is remarkable that the report lists only 8 “stakeholders”, with community members not represented. All of the chosen “stakeholders” either work in Council or are contracted by Council. It is therefore an internally commissioned, driven and focussed report. There is no acknowledgement that the Eurobodalla community are in fact the “stakeholders” who will be paying the wages and footing the bills for ongoing financial losses of this project. Given the constricted pool of “stakeholders”, it is perplexing that the consultants failed to interview the 2 current Councillors who served through the entirety of the project. The only Councillor included is our current Mayor, who was elected at the tail end of this sorry saga. Based on the limited project information contained in the report, the impression given is that it proceeded smoothly until operations commenced, when it was realised that there were financial problems. This is misleading, as the project exhibited cost blowouts and ongoing design modifications from its origins in dubious Commonwealth and State grant funding, with construction costs rising from $46 million to around $70 million – another inconvenient but important truth missing from this report. This alarming trend generated significant public disquiet, with questions and information requests being put to Council by individuals and community groups (including ABE) throughout the project. None of these community enquiries or concerns are acknowledged in the report. It is possible that some of this community input may have been included in the “approximately 200 documents” given to the consultants, but (because the report does not include a full documentation list) it is impossible to ascertain whether these submissions have been ignored or excluded. This key omission also diminishes confidence in the eight findings which state “No evidence provided for review”, as it is impossible to ascertain what evidence was actually submitted to the consultant. It is notable that the only business case ever publicly released for the Pavilions was a 2017 DRAFT document which specifically stated that it did not include depreciation impacts and should not be used for grant application purposes, yet this is precisely what subsequently occurred. This key governance failure is not acknowledged in the report. In fact, the Eurobodalla community is still in the dark about the updated business case utilised by Council and shared with the consultants to prepare this current report. Every community request for key information or updated assumptions around the project was rejected under the guise of “commercial in confidence”, even when this was clearly not applicable. This is another key failure ignored by the report – the words “commercial in confidence” are absent from both the report and accompanying agenda paper tabled today. It is especially puzzling that Councillor Mayne was not consulted for this report, as he was one of the 3 Councillors who asked well-informed and now vindicated key questions at critical junctures during the project, and yet the consultants did not meet with him. The key documents listed make no mention of the official video footage of Council meetings when important community-driven questions from these Councillors were actively blocked or ignored by senior Council staff. Once again, the question arises - have these critical governance failures been just ignored? Their omission from the report tacitly implies that these officially documented public failures of process do not warrant acknowledgement or require any updated governance practices – they have just been “disappeared” into the past. For those who may say that these past events should be ignored as we look to the future, I offer the timeless advice : “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” Any record of the Bay Pavilions project which chooses not to “remember” and acknowledge these key failures of Council staff and governance processes cannot be a credible basis to guide and inform the improvements required to ensure they will not be repeated in the future. Past actions and failures of Council cannot be ignored or excused simply because some Council staff have moved on, since many of the senior staff present during this governance debacle are still present. Council as a legal entity is morally and legally bound to take responsibility and be accountable for its decisions and behaviour, both current and past. The requirements of the NSW Model Code of Conduct set minimum conduct standards for Council officials. They are required to : · understand and comply with the standards of conduct expected of them; · fulfil their statutory duty to act honestly and exercise a reasonable degree of care and diligence; and · act in a way that enhances public confidence in local government. Council’s non-transparent conduct during the Pavilions project was not consistent with these goals. Mayor Hatcher recently said : “Transparency is critical for community confidence. There are important lessons to be learned from this review and decisions to be made based on the recommendations in the report.” ABE wholeheartedly agrees with him, and believes that the Pavilions fiasco is an object lesson of the financial and social damage done when a Council fails to be open, honest and transparent with their community. The NSW Office of Local Government (OLG) guidelines state that Councillors “are expected to represent the views of the community while making decisions in their interests; demonstrate conduct that the community expects and deserves; and plan and oversee the running of a significant and complex business.” It is clear that the conduct exhibited by Council throughout the Bay Pavilions project was frequently at odds with each of these requirements, and therefore constitutes a serious and systemic failure of governance which must be addressed. Today’s agenda paper recommendation to “receive and note“ the report with “consideration” being given to vaguely worded changes to Council processes at an unspecified point in the future is not commensurate with the nature and scale of the problems revealed. ABE therefore urges Councillors as a matter of urgency to direct senior staff to prepare and publicly circulate a concrete set of draft proposals which: i) address the key governance issues contributing to the systemic failures evident in the Bay Pavilions project, and ii) significantly reduce the Pavilion’s recurrent financial burden on Eurobodalla ratepayers. The review report makes it clear that significant decisions of great consequence for the Eurobodalla community must soon be made about future management of the Pavilions. The community’s confidence in Council’s ability and willingness to effectively and transparently make these decisions has been severely damaged by past events, and will be irretrievably broken if they are excluded from undertaking a meaningful role in this process. To chart a successful course into the future, we need to understand and acknowledge how we arrived where we are today. Thank you for your attention, Dr Brett Stevenson Co-Convenor, A Better Eurobodalla

The team at Eurobodalla Jobs and Training have posted their latest job vacancies this week and some fee-free training. Don’t forget, if you live in Eurobodalla, Rhonnie or Amy can help you with job applications and training, as well as updating your resume and practicing for an interview. Click here to complete the survey so you can access this FREE one-on-one support.t. For more information on any of the jobs below contact the Eurobodalla Jobs and Training team via their Facebook page, by phoning (02) 4474 7380 or by email at employmentprojects@esc.nsw.gov.au You can also be added to their weekly Job Alert email list where you'll be sent the latest jobs and their application links straight to your email! Getting a job has never been so EASY. For more information or to book contact Amy on 4474 7380. Direct all enquiries to https://www.facebook.com/EurobodallaJobsandTraining or phone apprenticeships and traineeships 1. Recruitflex in Dalmeny is looking for a full time trainee assistant in nursing 2. Regional Strata NSW in Batemans Bay is looking for a full time trainee strata manager 3. Amber’s Café in Batemans Bay is looking for a full time food and beverage trainee for a 2 year traineeship with TAFE stud. 4. Beach House Stairs in Batemans Bay is looking for a full time 1st year apprentice carpenter construction, trades and laboring 5. Electrodry in Batemans Bay is looking for a full time team member ($30 - $35 per hour plus super plus vehicle) 6. NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service in Narooma is looking for a full time ranger ($64,971 - $100,353 per year) 7. Department of Regional NSW in Narooma is looking for a full time fisheries officer ($85,051 - $95,459 per year) 8. Moruya Smash Repairs is looking for a full time panel beater ($65,000 per year) 9. B & S Panels in Batemans Bay is looking for a full time panel beater 10. Air Fresh Filter Service in Moruya is looking for a casual cleaner for kitchen rangehoods, ducting and exhaust fans 11. Online Recruitment in Baremans Bay is looking for a full time site supervisor ($80,000 - $85,000 per year) 12. On Line Recruitment in Batemans Bay is looking for a casual labourer ($29.81 - $33.41 per hour) 13. Moruya TAFE is looking for part time general assistant tool store person ($49, 735 - $62,112 per year) 14. Australia’s Oyster Coast in Narooma is looking for a full time assistant farm manager 15. Australia’s Oyster Coast in Narooma is looking for a casual oyster hand 16. All About Glass in Batemans Bay is looking for a full time glazier ($70,000 - $80,000 per year) transport 17. Independent Living Specialists in Batemans Bay are looking for a full time delivery driver / warehouse assistant 18. Tattam Express in Batemans Bay is looking for a full time customer administration/ transport coordinator 19. Recruitflex in Narooma is looking for a full time MR truck driver 20. LLS Aus Group in Batemans Bay is looking for a casual HR driver ($50 - $100 per hour) hospitality and tourism 21. BIC Services in Moruya is looking for a part time cleaner 22. Merivale in Narooma is looking for a full time chef ($65,000 to $110,000 per year) 23. Merivale in Narooma is looking for a full time venue manager ($75,000 - $100,000 per year) 24. Club Malua in Malua Bay is looking for a full time club supervisor/ relief duty manager 25. Tomakin Sports and Social Club is looking for a casual receptionist 26. Barlings Beach Holiday Park is looking for a casual receptionist 27. Amber’s Café in Batemans Bay is looking for a casual kitchen hand and a barista/ front of house person. To apply email your resume to amber@amberscreativecakes.com.au or drop it into the cafe. 28. Sams Pizza in Batemans Bay is looking for casual front of house staff 29. Araluen Motor Lodge in Batemans Bay is looking for a casual room attendant retail 30. Fantastic Furniture in Batemans Bay is looking for a full time assistant manager 31. Southlands Fruit and Veg in Moruya is looking for a wholesale assistant ($30 an hour). 32. Fantastic Furniture in Batemans Bay is looking for a casual warehouse team member 33. Prouds in Batemans Bay is looking for a full time store manager 34. Coles in Batemans Bay is looking for a full time grocery manager 35. Coles in Batemans Bay is looking for a casual team member 36. Aldi in Batemans Bay is looking for a part time retail assistant ($27.66 per hour) 37. EC Group in Moruya is looking for a casual team member ($32.76 per hour) 38. W.Lane in Batemans Bay is looking for a part time store manager 39. Rockmans in Batemans Bay is looking for a part time sales assistant 40. The Just Group in Batemans Bay is looking for a casual sales assistant 41. Bay Audio in Batemans Bay is looking for a full time store manager ($61,000 per year) office and IT (professional) 42. Eurobodalla Shire Council in Moruya is looking for a full time road safety officer ($88,349.44 to $96,963.89 gross per year) 43. Aligned Leisure in Batemans Bay is looking for a part time or full time marketing coordinator 44. APM Global in Batemans Bay is looking for a full time employment consultant 45. APM Employment Services in Batemans Bay is looking for a full time disability employment consultant 46. Department of Communities and Justice in Batemans Bay is looking for a full time client services officer 47. Kardia HR in Batemans Bay is looking for a full time certifies practicing valuer 48. G.J. Gardner Homes in Batemans Bay is looking for a full time receptionist health and community services 49. Marymead Catholic Church in Moruya is looking for a part time administrative assistant 50. NDIS in Batemans Bay is looking for full time APS 4 service delivery team members 51. Queen Street Medical Centre in Moruya is looking for a part time registered nurse ($67,184 - $80,739 per year pro rata) 52. Goodwin Aged Care Services in Batemans Bay is looking for a part time home care scheduling assistant 53. Goodwin Aged Care Services in Batemans Bay is looking for full time aged care workers 54. H1 Group in Moruya is looking for a full time assistant in nursing 55. Recruitflex in Moruya is looking for full time, part time and casual support workers - aged and community care ($25 - $35 per hour) 56. Gidget Foundation in Moruya is looking for full time or part time perinatal psychologists, clinical psychologists, registered psychologists or accredited mental health social workers 57. HammondCare in Batemans Bay is looking for a part time pastoral care coordinator 58. Kirinari Community Services in Batemans Bay is looking for a full time aged and home care worker 59. Southern NSW Local Health District in Moruya is looking for a full time patient transport escort nurse ($33.97 - $47.69 per hour) 60. Southern NSW Local Health District in Moruya is looking for a full time registered nurse – renal unit ($67,357 - $94,568 per year - $33.97 - $47.69 per hour) 61. Southern NSW Local Health District in Moruya is looking for a full time registered midwife ($67,357 - $94,568 per annum - $33.97 - $47.69 per hour, position qualifies for the NSW Health Rural Incentive scheme up to $10,000) 62. Southern NSW Local Health District in Moruya is looking for a full time clinical pharmacist ($37.46 - $49.27 per hour, position qualifies for the NSW Health Rural Incentive scheme up to $10,000.00) 63. A group of pharmacies in Batemans Bay is looking for a full time pharmacist in charge ($120,000 - $140,000 per year) 64. Encara in Batemans Bay is looking for a full time physiotherapist ($85,000 - $100,000 per year) 65. Lead Group in Batemans Bay is looking for multiple contract assistants in nursing and aged care workers 66. Stream Talent in Batemans Bay is looking for a fulltime registered nurse ($50 per hour + super) 67. Orchard Talent Group in Batemans Bay is looking for multiple permanent a part time home care workers 68. Recruitflex in Moruya is looking for a part time lifestyle coordinator ($60,000 - $70,000 per year) 69. Recruitflex in Narooma is looking for a full time team leader hospitality services – aged care 70. Alzheimers QLD in Batemans Bay is looking for a full time care coordinator – home care packages 71. NSW Aboriginal Home Health is looking for a part time indigenous identified aboriginal home health care worker 72. Australian Unity in Batemans Bay is looking for a part time support worker ($28.01 - $31.38 per hour) 73. Australian Unity in Moruya is looking for a part time support worker ($28.01 - $31.38 per hour) 74. Life Without Barriers in Batemans Bay is looking for a part time disability support worker other 75. TAFE NSW in Moruya is looking for a part time counsellor – south region ($88,842 - $105,362 per year pro rata) 76. NSW Department of Education in Narooma is looking for a full time music teacher ($5000 - $8000 per month) 77. NSW Department of Education in Narooma Public School is looking for a full time teacher special education hearing impairment FREE TRAINING (eligibility applies) TAFE NSW is providing more than 300 certificate and diploma level qualifications fee-free (eligibility applies). TAFE NSW is running a fee-free Certificate IV Leadership and Management starting on Wednesday 23 August via virtual delivery.

Come to Science Week at Eurobodalla Regional Botanic Garden for a special focus on threatened plants and animals, and what we can do to conserve them. Seminar: Citizen Science Matters Saturday 19 August, 9.30am – 3.30pm Delve into the significance of citizen science in filling crucial data gaps on some of our most threatened wildlife. Inaturalist Training Saturday 19 August, 1.30pm – 3.00pm Join experienced trainer Jen Connolly for hands-on training on navigating the app Orchid Walk Saturday 19 August, 1.30pm – 3.00pm Local orchid expert Dylan Morriseey will lead you through the native forest, sharing fascinating insights about the unique orchid species found in the region. Book Now at erbg.org.au Photo credit: Gang-gang chicks by Margie Burk

The majority of Council voted, during their Council meeting 15th August, 2023, against the recommendation that was put forward by the Aboriginal Advisory Committee recommending that - the Eurobodalla Shire Council supports a ‘yes’ vote in the referendum for an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice to Parliament. - Also, that the Council advises all residents of Eurobodalla Shire about this decision and advertises this decision in signs on the council’s properties”. Offering an alternate motion Council backed the communication that would direct the community to the many links on their website https://www.esc.nsw.gov.au/community/Arts,-culture,-and-heritage/aboriginal-culture It is understood that Bunja Smith has resigned from the Aboriginal Advisory Committee

NOM 23/003 – 15 August 2023 The Southcoast Health and Sustainability Alliance (SHASA) supports Councillor David Grace’s motion that a report be prepared for consideration by Council at its 21 November 2023 meeting on the need and suitability of council public facilities, including public halls, to be used as heat havens. The report is to provide discussion on options, costs, possible funding sources and what facilities could be reasonably made available as heat havens in the future. SHASA also strongly believes that the Eurobodalla Shire Council should also prepare a Heatwave Plan before the 20023/24 bushfire/heatwave season. The anticipation of heat waves this summer has led to warnings from health experts that the return of heatwaves will almost certainly lead to an increase in hospitalisations and deaths. Hannah Mason, an associate lecturer at James Cook University's School of Public Health study of hospital and ambulance data over 20 years found heatwaves increased the risk of death in Queensland by 5 per cent and increased ambulance call-out demand by more than 12 per cent. The looming weather outlook has alarmed doctors so much that 100,000 medical practitioners penned a joint statement last week calling for more action and preparation for climate disasters. A key goal of SHASA is to undertake practical projects to achieve a more resilient community in the Eurobodalla. As noted in my recent presentation to Council, over the last 4 years, SHASA has been working to establish a network of heatwave havens across the Eurobodalla as part of our Eurobodalla Haven Strategy. Using grant funding we have been running heatwave and bushfire haven projects to upgrade community-owned facilities with energy systems that can continue to operate when the mains power goes down and with temperature and air quality controls to deal with extreme heat and smoke. The two main benefits of these projects have been reduced ongoing operational costs for the community organisations who own these facilities and a safe refuge for the more vulnerable members of our community during extreme weather events. To date SHASA has received funding for six havens, four of which have been completed and two are well underway: · Anglican Parish Moruya Red Door Hall · Moruya Pre School Kindergarten · CWA Moruya · CWA Narooma · Úniting Church Batemans Bay (still to be completed) · Tilba Halls (still to be completed) The Anglican Parish Red Door Hall was the first haven to be completed. It was operational during the Black Summer Bushfires and it saved lives. SHASA recently had a very successful opening for Stage 1 and 2 of the Uniting Church Haven on 4 August this year and there will be an opening for CWA Narooma Haven later this year in October or November. In 2022 as part of our Eurobodalla Haven Strategy SHASA, in consultation with the owners of other community facilities and Council, developed detailed business cases for a further 17 havens. 11 of these were community-owned and 6 were Council-owned. The South Durras Progress Hall, the Bodalla Memorial Hall, the Tomakin Community Hall, Kyla Park Hall at Tuross Head and Dalmeny Hall are all owned by Council and were included in SHASA’s Eurobodalla Haven Strategy because there are no suitable community-owned facility at these locations. · the Bodalla Memorial Hall business case includes solar panels, battery storage and a generator, LED lighting, Hepa filters, air conditioning and a water tank (cost $119,500). · the Dalmeny Community Hall business case includes solar panels, battery storage and a generator, LED lighting, Hepa filters and an EV charger (cost $48,300) · the Durras Progress Hall, business case includes solar panels, battery storage and a generator, LED lighting, Hepa filters, air conditioning and an EV charger (cost $81,000). · the Kyla Park Hall business case includes battery storage and a generator, Hepa filters and LED lighting (cost $54,400). · the Tomakin Community Hall business case includes solar panels, battery storage, a generator, LED lighting, Hepa filters and a water tank (cost $55,820). · The Malua Bay Community Centre business case includes solar panels, battery storage and a generator, LED lighting, Hepa filters and an EV charger (cost $64,100). SHASA’s work to date provides a solid foundation for progressing the establishment of additional havens across the Eurobodalla and we are keen to collaborate with Council to submit a National Emergency Management Agency Disaster Ready Fund application to upgrade these Council halls so they can operate as heatwave as well as bushfire havens. Reconstruction NSW has told SHASA that they see heatwave havens as a priority for the Eurobodalla and they are very supportive of our Eurobodalla Haven Strategy, but Council support and engagement is vital to secure funding to fully implement this strategy. As stressed in my previous presentation to Council, we are now heading into a super El Nino and we have just had the driest June/July on record. Around the globe temperatures are soaring and crippling heatwaves have hit Asia, America and Europe. The impact of the coming summer’s heat on Australia is likely to be severe and we need to be prepared. Given the seriousness and urgency of the situation, SHASA considers that an interim option Council may want to consider for this summer would be the use community clubs, as a means to bolster emergency preparedness for the coming season. A number of clubs in the Eurobodalla provided a network of impromptu evacuation hubs during the Black Summer fires. These clubs were far better serviced than the formal evacuation centres having seating, air conditioning, refrigeration, commercial kitchens and hygienic bathroom facilities. The ACT government has just introduced legislative changes to enable community clubs to open their doors as refuges to keep Canberrans safe during extreme heat and smoke events. SHASA therefore recommends that the Council engage in discussions with our clubs to see if they are willing to operate as heatwave havens and that Council also advocates to the NSW government to seek the legislative changes required to enable the clubs to do so. We have seen across Europe and the US cooling centres being set up to help their communities survive the heat. Lets get these Council heatwave havens operational as soon as possible. Photo credit: Michelle Hamrosi

Mayor Mathew Hatcher who will host a free watch event to get around the Matildas semi-final match this Wednesday. Details: - The game will be broadcast live and free at the Bay Pavilions, Yuin Theatre. - Doors open 7.30pm for 8pm kickoff - It’s free to book. Get tickets on the Bay Pavilions website. Link here > bpav.sales.ticketsearch.com/sales/salesevent/112852 Photo: LittleBlinky

Public Forum Submission by Jeff de Jager regarding - GMR23/031 - Bay Pavilions Financial Performance Review A big thankyou to the Mayor and General Manager for initiating the KPMG review into the operation of the Batemans Bay Pavilions – it finally has put some light on the behind the scenes apparent deliberate obfuscations and prevarications that have bewildered many in the community over the past 7 years. Over those years, community members made many unsuccessful attempts to Council to release actual factual information about the Pav project and its genesis, the purchase of the Batemans Bay Bowling Club site. These requests for information were largely ignored and so were many community generated warnings about costs, design and operational matters, along with suggestions and recommendations for improvements. Subjects covered in these community inputs included comparisons of reticulation and filtration systems and their relative energy consumptions: such information was easily requested and obtained by community members from independent professional specialists but unwelcome within Council. Anyhow, at last we are now aware that the costs associated with owning and operating the Pav are indeed crippling - the $4.6 million figure exceeds many of the feared outcomes that members of the community believed may have been enough to have Council consider an increase in rates in order to cover them. To date, thankfully, those fears for increased rates appear likely not to be realised in the near future. One of the largest components of the high costs is depreciation. This cost was not included in the 2017 consultant’s business case but its non-inclusion was clearly identified and was the subject of a disclosure. It was also disclosed by the consultant that their assumptions and calculations were based on a very limited study by an Adelaide university of a handful of aquatic centres. Those red lights exhibited by the consultant appear to have been ignored along with pleas from community members as early as the Extraordinary Council meeting held on 29 August 2017 – six years ago. What was the rush to proceed without full and proper information? Was it really to get the grants as we were told? Or was there some other motivation? Who knows? While the terms of reference for the KPMG review have focussed mainly on the Pav’s actual costs and how they compare with the so-called business case, it has nevertheless highlighted the seemingly selective information at times used by staff to inform Councillors and the inexplicable lack of or inadequate referrals of the project’s status to Council’s own Audit Risk and Improvement Committee. The KPMG review also lists as “Stakeholders Consulted” six council-related people and two executives employed by the Pav’s management contractor. Only two of the council-related Directors mentioned were employed over the duration of the project and furthermore, strangely, significantly missing from this list are past Mayors, past and present Councillors and the past General Manager and involved Directors who participated in the decision making process over the years. It is not known what, if any, information from council’s files was made known to KPMG in addition to data relative to operating costs. To be sure the review’s findings do highlight the nature of the unacceptable level of costs and will be useful in determining what has to be done. The review also has called attention to the need for improvements within Council’s management - including the enhancement of the role of the Audit Risk and Improvement Committee – and none of these needs for improvement should be ignored. The limited ability though, for KPMG to consult with past decision makers (and indeed interested community members) is typical of some of the limitations imposed by some in Council in the conduct of the Pav project. In my view, the big limitation of the review is that it was unable to determine the sources and reasons for the past decision making that has now resulted in the current calamitous financial position. It follows that, without such full knowledge, learnings and warnings to prevent such mistakes being made again in the future will not be available. In closing, I remind you, Councillors, that the KPMG review findings are just that – that is, they are findings, not informed recommendations. It is up to Council today to adopt those findings and, please, I urge you to go further to ensure further reviews and any necessary changes are implemented above and beyond the single recommendation in GMR23/031 before you “THAT Council receive and note the Bay Pavilions Financial Performance Review, Final Report, 27 June 2023”. Jeff de Jager

Walawani: Mayor and Councillors, Today, I stand before you to lend my voice in support of a rare opportunity for our nation, an opportunity that echoes the values of inclusion, fairness, and unity that our local community aspires to uphold. I speak on behalf of the Eurobodalla for Yes movement, aligning our vision with the unanimous recommendation from the Aboriginal Advisory Committee. Together, we have a chance to contribute to a more just and compassionate Australia by supporting the First Peoples Voice Referendum. The Eurobodalla Shire, rich with a cultural history stretching back over 60,000 years, serves as a testament to the resilience and enduring spirit of the First Peoples. The local Voice to Council established through the Aboriginal Advisory Committee has paved the way for us to understand the importance of genuine representation. Just as this local initiative has strengthened our community, so too can a national Voice to Parliament uplift our entire nation. Why does Australia need a Voice to Parliament? This referendum is not merely a historical gesture; it is a pivotal step towards reconciliation, a means to correct past injustices, and a way to address the ongoing traumas that First Peoples endure. The stark disparities in life expectancy, the heartbreaking prevalence of youth suicides, the disproportionate representation of our young ones in detention, and the higher child mortality rates remind us that there is much work to be done. By supporting a YES vote in the upcoming referendum, we are rectifying a historical wrong - a unique opportunity to acknowledge that First Peoples existed in this country prior to the establishment of Australia as a nation. In the 1976 referendum First Peoples were counted, in 2023 they are seeking to be heard on the decisions that impact their lives, creating a more just and inclusive society. Why should Councillors vote to support this motion? Some may argue that this is a matter for the Federal Government, but I ask you to see the bigger picture. As leaders in our community, you have been elected to represent all of us. By voting YES today, you are not only demonstrating leadership but showing genuine support for the First Peoples of the Eurobodalla Shire. The First Peoples of this Shire need a Voice to Parliament just as they need a Voice to Council. This is why the Aboriginal Advisory Committee has unanimously recommended to Council that it publicly supports a YES vote in the coming referendum. I ask you to consider a powerful addition to the recommendation: “That our Mayor, representing our united voice, reach out to all other Mayors and Councils across Australia, encouraging them to join us with a similar motion of support for the establishment of a Voice to Parliament.” Together, we can be a beacon of democracy, unity, and respect that our nation needs. Importantly, this motion will cost Council nothing but will have a profound effect on the discussion in our community and beyond. In closing, I thank you for considering this crucial decision. By voting YES today, you are not just supporting the First Peoples of the Shire; you are making sure that the Eurobodalla Shire Council stands on the right side of history. Together, let us shape a future where every voice is heard, where every life is valued, and where our collective strength propels us towards a brighter tomorrow. And, Councillors, as elected representatives you know – It’s always better to vote Yes than No. Thank you. Paul Spooner For Eurobodalla for Yes

Councillors, I am not able to attend the council meeting tomorrow to speak on GMR23/031. Here is my presentation. Firstly thank for valuing transparency and for commissioning the KPMG report into the Bay Pavillions. As the report notes it has only dealt with information that was available through documents provided. The level of deception and secrecy the review has found through “un-minuted meetings; an absence of documentation; no critical analysis; no evidence provided; limited information provided” the previous council engaged in is disturbing, but at least has now seen the light of day. In their letter to council in 2020 the Office of Local Government questioned the level of demand in the community for the planned indoor 25m pool/arts complex which council withheld from the Audit and Risk Committee, councillors and the community. At that time the mood in the community was one of anger, distrust and powerlessness. The results of a Survey Monkey by a local group Community Supports and Outdoor 50m Pool [2018 and no longer available] conducted online for [then] Mackay Park Precinct, confirmed lack of support for the 25m pool. Of all responders 86.60% of people DO NOT SUPPORT Eurobodalla Council’s plans to replace the 50 metre pool with a 25 metre pool; only 18.3% of people DO SUPPORT Council’s plans. Out of all responders 56% of people SUPPORT a year round indoor heated aquatic centre with a 25 metre pool and an outdoor 50 metre pool; while 37%of people SUPPORT an indoor heated 50 metre pool; only 10% of people SUPPORT an indoor 25 metre pool. Unfortunately the previous council, apart from Clrs Mayne, McGinlay and Constable, could not care less. They were pressing ahead anyway without the support of the community. Over five years community members spent hours writing letters, organising public meetings, doing presentations, meeting community groups, trying to get information from a secretive council, some applying for GIPA requests and contacting the NSW Ombusdman. While the report focuses on the financial situation – depreciation and operating loss across the Bay Pavillions, I am hopeful councillors understand the situation from the community point of view as you are the community’s voice in council. A survey of 128 councils in NSW in 2018 was informative. We wanted to see how other councils engaged with the community when aquatic facilities required upgrading or replacing. Councils were transparent inviting people to have a say using a survey on the website or through a public meeting before any decisions were made. Perhaps Council could consider this type of engagement in addition to the information now shared on the website and Facebook page to make sure all community members have easy access to have their say. I appreciate council has a task ahead to work out what to do now. Whatever that is, I hope council seeks advice from experts when necessary. Thank you. Maureen Searson Photo: ESC

Presentation to Council 15/08/2023 in support of NOM23/003 Heat Havens Urgent Action Needed: Protecting Vulnerable Demographics from Heat Risk By Dr Michelle Hamrosi MOTION: NOM23/003 HEAT HAVENS Responsible Officer: David Grace - Councillor Attachments: Nil Councillor David Grace has given notice that at the Ordinary Meeting of Council on 15 August 2023, he will move the following motion. MOTION THAT a report be prepared for consideration by Council at its 21 November 2023 meeting on the need and suitability of council public facilities, including public halls, to be used as heat havens. The report is to provide discussion on options, costs, possible funding sources, and what facilities could be reasonably made available as heat havens for the future. Good morning Mayor, Councillors, General manager and executive members of council. Thank you to Councillor Grace for the motion NOM23/003 HEAT HAVENS that you have brought to council today. As you know I am a GP, and the Community Engagement Officer for the Australian Breastfeeding Association’s Community Protection for Infants and Young Children in Bushfire Project. Heat poses significant health risks to both infants and pregnant women. Infants, with their underdeveloped thermoregulatory systems, are highly vulnerable to heat-related illnesses. Prolonged exposure to high temperatures can lead to dehydration, heat exhaustion, and even life-threatening heatstroke. Additionally, pregnant women are at an increased risk to overheating due to hormonal changes and increased metabolic rate during pregnancy. Heat stress in pregnant women can result in complications such as preterm labor, dehydration, and gestational hypertension. Moreover, excessive heat can contribute to an elevated core body temperature, potentially impacting foetal development and increasing the risk of birth defects. Why does this matter for us? All major health and medical organisations today recognise that the rapidly warming climate is the greatest threat to global public health. During Earth’s hottest month on record, last month, António Guterres the U.N. chief issued a stark warning: “The era of global warming has ended; the era of global boiling has arrived.” We cannot ignore these clear and increasingly urgent warnings. In my work, I regularly encounter impoverished families within our local community. A substantial number of these households reside in socially challenged accommodations, characterised by inadequate airflow, absence of air conditioning or cooling mechanisms, and constrained avenues of transportation. Among them, certain individuals find themselves unhoused, ensnared within the harrowing cycle of domestic abuse, or grappling with the burden of mental afflictions. We know that climate change disproportionately affects these populations, exacerbating existing socio-economic disparities and increasing their exposure to extreme weather events and health risks. I urge the council to review the suitability of our public facilities, such as community halls, as potential heat havens, emphasising the importance of designating a specific venue or space that is tailored to the requirements of families and caregivers with infants. When assessing suitability for evacuation centres, the unique needs of young children should guide part of the evaluation process. This should include assessing the presence of child-friendly areas or dedicated spaces for families with infants, as well as scrutinising safety elements like road access, gates, stairs, and balconies. Our project is happy to provide evaluation checklists that can specifically help in this process. Furthermore, I emphasise the immediate need for collaboration between the council and pertinent agencies to effectively communicate up-to-date and tailored emergency information to diverse vulnerable demographics. My team is currently in the final phases of crafting targeted health advisory resources, specifically tailored for very young children and expectant mothers in the context of heatwaves. We are eager to share these resources with you. Our assessment reveals that existing messaging tends to be overly general, and if extrapolated to the context of infants, could inadvertently pose risks. Lastly, I invite you to extend the scope of your motion today to encompass the development of a comprehensive heatwave plan by the council. This strategic initiative will guarantee a thoughtful, all-encompassing, and integrated response. The Victorian state government has created resources to help local councils do this. Many councils across Victoria and now rolling out their own heatwave plans. In conclusion, I would like to thank you for the opportunity to emphasise the importance of mitigating the health risks associated with heat, particularly for our most vulnerable demographics – infants and pregnant women. By designating public facilities as heat havens, tailoring emergency communications for these groups, and formulating a comprehensive heatwave plan, we demonstrate our proactive stance in addressing this critical issue. Thank you for your consideration and dedication to a resilient and healthier future. References: Washington Post, “We are living through Earth’s hottest month on record, scientists say” published July 20th 2023 https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2023/07/20/earth-hottest-month-july-climate/?itid=lk_inline_manual_2 Victoria heat wave planning guide: https://www.health.vic.gov.au/publications/heatwave-planning-guide-development-of-heatwave-plans-in-local-councils-in-victoria Direct link to pdf: https://content.health.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files/migrated/files/collections/policies-and-guidelines/p/planning-guide---pdf.pdf

A Better Eurobodalla (ABE) presentation to Eurobodalla Shire Council public forum on CAR23/012 Aboriginal Advisory Committee Recommendation 15 August 2023 I am presenting today as the Co-convenor of A Better Eurobodalla (ABE), a community forum working to achieve open, accountable and responsive government in Eurobodalla. ABE has applied our principles of good governance to the following Aboriginal Advisory Committee Recommendation (ESC CAR23/012): ‘We the members of the Aboriginal Advisory Committee recommend that the Eurobodalla Shire Council supports a ‘yes’ vote in the referendum for an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice to Parliament. Also, that the Council advises all residents of Eurobodalla Shire about this decision and advertises this decision in signs on the council’s properties’. The governance aspects that I will discuss this morning relate to · the role of the ESC Aboriginal Advisory Committee and its relationship with council, and · the role of local government in relation to national or federal issues. As background, the statement by the nine chief ministers of Australia supporting the constitutionally enshrined voice to Parliament, noted the following principles put forward by the referendum working group for the Voice, that it: · provides independent advice to the parliament and government · is chosen by First Nations people based on the wishes of local communities · is representative of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities · Is empowering, community-led, inclusive, respectful, culturally informed and gender balanced and includes youth · is accountable and transparent · works alongside existing organisations and traditional structures · does not have a program delivery function and · does not have a veto power. The Eurobodalla Shire Council Aboriginal Advisory Committee is one of the seven advisory committees to council. Its Terms of Reference include that: ‘The role of the committee is to promote Aboriginal Culture within the Eurobodalla Shire and to advise and make recommendations to Council on matters relating to Aboriginal people.’ The Objectives of the Committee include ‘To advise and liaise with Council regarding issues impacting on local Aboriginal communities’. In August 2018 the Australian Local Government Association made a Submission to the Joint Select Committee on Constitutional Recognition relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Peoples. That submission included that ‘Local governments across Australia are very supportive of constitutional recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. At the National General Assembly of Local Government (NGA) held in June this year over 800 representatives of local governments voted on motions of national importance to local governments. One of these motions was that the National General Assembly endorses the constitutional acknowledgement of Indigenous Australians as the first peoples of this land.’ These statements and positions firmly place this issue in the realm of local government across Australia. More recently at the ALGA June 2023 meeting attended by our Mayor, the resolution (Motion number 95) was carried that: ‘This National General Assembly acknowledges the Australian Government’s support of constitutional recognition for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders through a Voice to Parliament and recognises what the Uluru Statement and the Voice to Parliament will mean for Australia's First Nations peoples and the broader Australian community.’ Arguments put against local government taking a position on the Voice include that this is a political issue and that it is a federal issue and therefore not the business of local government. Whether it is liked by individuals or not, local government is part of the political domain. People stand to be elected on positions that they take publicly, whether they are part of a recognised political party or as independents. They are voted in to represent their constituents. This is political. Somewhat ironically this issue of the Voice to Parliament sits more comfortably outside traditional political processes. As we know it comes from the Uluru Statement from the Heart – a non-partisan document. While there has been opportunistic politicisation of the Voice, it has not emerged from a political party but from Australia’s First Nations peoples. In Eurobodalla, and particularly in this place, the First Nation’s voice comes through the Aboriginal Advisory Committee. That message to Council is to support a ‘yes’ vote in the referendum for an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice to Parliament Twelve months ago, on 26 August 2022 Mayor Hatcher gave us some very relevant words. I quote: ‘Some members of the community want us to have an opinion and stand up to advocate strongly, while others think we should stay in our lane and just deal in roads, rates, and rubbish. A quick look around local social media makes this contrast clear. The councillors and I were elected as advocates to the Council on behalf of community. But we also see our role involves lobbying the state and federal government on issues you want to see changed. I believe our Council is more than roads, rates, and rubbish. When there’s a housing crisis, when there’s potholes on the Princes Highway and when someone wants a speed limit lowered, we are contacted. We are looked to when everything goes wrong and asked to fix things even if it’s not something that local councils do. Just because it’s not something we do, doesn’t mean we can’t fight for it to happen. I believe it’s my role, and that of Council, to show leadership on issues beyond local government. Anywhere there’s an opportunity to make life better for our residents, we should and will step in. Our advocacy shines a light on state and federal issues.’ In recent times the local government sector has made resolutions to Australian Government on matters including: climate change and adaptation; transition to net zero; coastal adaptation planning; housing and emergency response and resilience. So, to engage in and impact on national or federal issues is an intrinsic and important role of local government as the level of government closest to the people who it serves. In December 2022 thirty-eight mayors from across Australia issued a joint statement in support of the upcoming referendum for constitutional recognition of Indigenous Australians. That statement included that: ‘Local government must play an important role in holding civic forums, promoting dialogue, and providing a platform for Indigenous voices to be heard in the debate. We believe that a successful referendum can be a unifying achievement for Australia.’ In Eurobodalla, the 2466 people who identified as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islanders in the 2021 census represent 6.1% of our population, compared to 3.4% across NSW and 3.2% across Australia. From the ESC Aboriginal Action Plan 2020-2024 ‘Council acknowledges, respects and works with the traditional custodians of the land, and sees our relationship with Aboriginal people as an important step in building community strength and resilience. The benefits of strong relationships between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people include: • mutual understanding of the culture and heritage • building trust between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people • increased sense of wellbeing and community resilience • acknowledgement and healing of past traumas • collaboration and meaningful interactions for consultation, and • nurturing future relationships.’ This resolution gives this council the opportunity to live up to those goals. Bernie O’Neil Co-convenor A Better Eurobodalla 15 August 2023

Presentation - GMR23/031 REVIEW OF BAY PAVILIONS – Lei Parker August 15th 2023 – Public Forum. Councillors, I would like to address you today on the issue of the Batemans Bay Aquatic and Performance Centre. From Council’s own reports I would like to present some background first: A site, identified as a regionally significant provided a strategic opportunity to create recreational and cultural facilities hub to benefit the Shire. A Sunset Committee was established with Council taking note of their valuable input into the process. There was significant consultation with the community to define a development direction. The consultant provided professional, independent, statistically reliable recommendation on the best way forward for the community and Council referring to statistically and demographically reliable survey data to establish market demand, user trends and inform development options Following the creation of development concept plans for the site, the plans were publicly exhibited. The Council endorsed it's preferred option. The consultant also provided a business plan. It was evident that given the significant estimated capital cost Council would need to secure funding from a range of sources. With development likely to be staged over a number of years in line with capital availability, priority needs and optimum operating financial performance, there was time and opportunity to also plan and attract investment to the project. As a next step in the project, Council needed to develop a more detailed, design, funding and investment strategy. Council policy requires that the whole of life cost be considered before accepting any new asset. This includes ongoing maintenance costs and replacement costs. The key findings of the report and business planning results indicated a significant community benefit of developing the facilities however, this would come at a cost to the community now and into the future. To understand the extent of the cost, significant, further detail, design work needs to be done to enable a more robust funding and financing strategy to be developed by Council. Councillors, the above is NOT about Mackay Park It is in fact paraphrasing a REPORT TO ORDINARY MEETING OF EUROBODALLA SHIRE COUNCIL HELD ON TUESDAY 27 AUGUST 2013 which moved, and adopted, that Council: “Receive and note the Hanging Rock Master Plan and Business Plan that included an arts space and aquatic centre”. What happened to this project? Council sat on its hands. Why? There were political aspirations, there was an upcoming hush-hush opportunity to buy the old Bowling Club site, the Batemans Bay pool had end of life issues, and staff had their own vision of what might be, A Gateway Vision, if only money could be found. Sometime later, after the 27th August 2013 approved motion, it is understood that the next batch of Councillors were advised, during briefings, around the Mackay Park business plan, that Hanging Rock would have less exposure as a venue and, as such, the projected revenues would be well below financial viability. Moving on to Mackay Park, its double speak, its lack of transparency, a poor paper trail, a business plan with questionable income and expenditure projections. The initial business plan for a $46m facility, warned: It should be noted that the financial model does not incorporate sensitivity analysis or depreciation at this stage. This will be done after the base case assumptions and preferred design option have been approved by Council. Further, once the preferred design option and financial modelling has been approved and finalised, an assessment of the economic impact of the facility should be undertaken by Council to support any applications for external funding. But what did council do? It used the business case, against advice, to apply for funding from NSW Sport. That application was turned down because the facility had no sporting component and was joined to a theatre. It also applied for funding from the Federal government Regional Growth Fund. This funding stream was found by the Auditor General to be compromised in its processes. In the media release from Ann Sudmalis she was very clear… “Eurobodalla Shire Council have been invited to submit their full Business Case for assessment under the Australian Government’s highly anticipated $272.2 million Regional Growth Fund.” The Mayor, in her own media release said at the time “I’m certain Council’s strong and affordable business case that focuses on meeting the broadest community needs and our commitment to the project have impressed the Federal government.” Council did not provide a FULL Business case or even the flawed one as was required, but were, never the less, awarded the $25m grant two days before a Federal election was called. As it was, the promise was only that, an unfunded promise, but it was honoured when Labor won the seat of Gilmore, though they did not call for a FULL business case. An FOI request to determine what business case had been provided to NSW Sport saw Council blocking attempts and then refusing to reveal, while being told to provide. After several attempts and an NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT) directive to Council to desist the heavily redacted application was released that revealed Council had used the Otium Business Case contrary to advice from Otium, given that the preferred option and, therefore, financial modelling had not been approved by Council and finalised, nor had there been a transparent assessment of the economic impact of the facility on the community as per: Further, once the preferred design option and financial modelling has been approved and finalised, an assessment of the economic impact of the facility should be undertaken by Council to support any applications for external funding. The Councillors of the day were clearly advised of the above by way of a Public Access Presentation by myself on Tuesday Oct 23rd 2018. They ignored it. Next came the gifting of $26.5m from the State Government that included $8m that was pork barrelled for the Theatre. That funding required no business case and therefore required no scrutiny. The Councillors had been clearly advised that $33m of their $51.5m in grants had come from political pork barrelling. They didn’t care. It was money for nothing. But it turns out that, like a gifted Rolls Royce, such an “gift” comes with a substantial future costs. The report before you today clearly reveals there was little if any evidence of consideration of this ongoing burden. Right from the start, decades before, political aspirants made promises that glittered and seduced and never bothered to reveal the cost it would bring to future generations. “Vote for me and I will deliver glittering prizes”. In looking at the archive of The Beagle there are 150 specific articles on Mackay Park going back to 2016. Most of them place a spotlight on the failures of consultation, the unwillingness to release information, the audacious ignorance of public analysis made of the business case, the pork barrelling, the manipulations, and the warnings around the failures to prove the viability of the project, especially after it went from a $46m build to $70m. A copy of most of those articles were emailed to councillors to ensure they were being given additional information outside of the information that were receiving at briefings. Some Councillors chose to block these emails while others chose to denigrate the messenger, being The Beagle, referring to it as a rag of a blog, in an attempt to discredit it, and the warnings it offered. I welcome the KPMG report that reveals much of what the councillors were being repeatedly informed by their own community outside of the briefings they received behind firmly closed doors. Council had publicly stated: “Council's independent Audit, Risk and Improvement Committee has been briefed on the financial details of the project throughout the process.” Reading the first line of the Findings it appears that this was not the case. Council were later advised, in this chamber, that the Audit, Risk and Improvement Committee was not fully briefed on the finances of the project as they could not be provided with all financials due to “commercial in confidence”. In fact, in this chamber, on July the 28th 2020, Council Phil Constable, a member of that committee, asked for a deferral of the vote to proceed with the project and commit Council to pay $19 million to address for the financial shortfall. He moved a motion for deferral so that the Audit, Risk and Improvement Committee could be briefed, and their informed advice received. That motion was voted down. It was on July the 28th 2020 that the councillors voted 6-3 to endorse the preferred tenderer for the $70 million Mackay Park project and, in doing so, endorse committing $19 million of ratepayers money to prop up the $51 million they had in State and Federal Grants. The motion came via a 160 word Mayoral Report that was given to Councillors at the last minute. This saw a fifteen minute break for them to digest the report and then come back to the chamber to vote on it. The motion, in part, was very clear: Do you endorse the preferred tenderer and do you commit $70 million (including $19 million of ratepayers money)? YES or NO Innes, Brown, Thomson, Nathan, Tait and Pollock all said YES. McGinlay, Mayne and Constable said NO. In order to vote it was essential that Councillors were fully informed. One area where they needed to be certain was that the Office of Local Government was satisfied with the proposed project. General Manager Dale admitted in writing that material correspondence, received on July 13th, 2020, was NOT given to councillors in the leadup to their crucial vote on committing $19 million to the Mackay Park project. The OLG correspondence stated, in part: It is also of concern that, while the top line of the above OLG correspondence was reported to the Councillors via the Council meeting agenda of July 28th, 2020, the second (and quite concerning) paragraph above was not conveyed. Had the councillors been given a copy of the letter, held by the General Manager for two weeks prior to July 28th they would have also read the following: But all they saw of the letter was a single sentence extract. The opinion offered by the OLG in their full letter of Review WAS indeed material to the information required by the councillors in order to assist them to make their decision to commit $19 million of ratepayers money to the Mackay Park project. The OLG, in their letter, clearly indicated they perceived a risk, yet that opinion was not given to the councillors, or to Council’s Audit and Risk Committee by General Manager Dale, as confirmed in the letter to The Beagle editor dated 11 November 2020. Had the OLG letter not been accessed via a GIPA request the councillors would still be none the wiser of its contents. During debate of July 28th 2020, the Councillors initially considered that they had been fully advised of everything they needed to know in order to vote. Clr Nathan said during the debate “We as the elected body have been thoroughly briefed.” Note that whist she said this the OLG letter was only known to one or two executive, and NOT councillors. Clr Pollock added during debate “There is nothing more to be placed to the Audit and Risk Committee for them to make a more informed decision than they have already provided”. Yet the Audit and Risk Committee had not been provided the OLG letter either. Councillor Pollock offered during Council debate of 28th July 2020 (1.54.39 timestamp https://webcast.esc.nsw.gov.au/archive/video20-0728.php#placeholder ) that the project had gained the greatest level of government support of any programme put forward by Eurobodalla Council. He then asserts “None of that happens without significant scrutiny from all of those sources”. But now we know that the FULL business case was never provided to the Federal Government and it was not scrutinised by the State Government following the announcement of Andrew Constance and Gladys Berejiklian We also know that the Council’s Audit and Risk committee were in the dark on financial detail and were not as informed, as suggested during debate, as the KPMG reports. During debate, and prior to the final vote, then Mayor Innes said: “Ultimately, what the community knows is what the community knows. What concerns me is what you, myself and my fellow councillors know. Because we are the ones who need to have all the information in front of us to make a decision on behalf of those who have democratically elected us to make decisions on their behalf” The KPMG report is scathing. It reveals an litany of process failures and each of these failures are there in detail. Innes said that “councillors need to have all the information in front of us” ….. But what if the information wasn’t all there, as appears to be the case. What if the financials were never independently scrutinised? What if the financial information and assumptions failed the Pub Test. Most Councillors chose to be cloth-eared to the concerns being raised, instead choosing to remain within their own echo chamber? The KPMG report gives the Council of the day, in my opinion, of an F- scorecard in regards to the project. I endorse the recommendations of the General Manager to establish a Projects Management Office. There is little doubt that the plethora of failures we now have on record would not have happened if the administration that bought us to this point had been held to account by those we elected. Some tried, but the majority won the day and delivered the legacy to the term of councillors we now have. In turn the burden of The Pav will be passed as a baton to the next term of Councillors, and the next, and the next. Hopefully, with the right leadership in place, the community will embrace the facility, and with sensible management overheads can be reduced without reducing delivery.

Motbey and party are sinking on their new reef near Mt. Utopia. It is maintaining the excellent prospects with which it opened up. Close alongside is a big “blue” reef, also carrying gold. This latter is increasing in width as it goes down. Smith and Welsh have made a splendid job of their contract for metaling and binding on about three-quarters of the road between Tilba and Central Tilba. Motorists say that it is one of the best pieces of road in Eurobodalla Shire. The Shire Engineer was so pleased with the road that he complimented the contractors. The far-famed North-West, which could support millions, lost nearly 5000 people in the census period; the South Coast lost 4450; the Central Tablelands 9254; the Southern Tablelands 5430; the Central Western Slopes 11,013; and the North-West Plains 4960. While the rural population is decreasing alarmingly, the city population is increasing abnormally. The Mechanics’ Institute having granted the use of the ground, the Moruya Tennis Club has pegged out the position for its third court. Mr. W. Luther obtained the contract for gravelling same. Mr. A. Ison notifies that he has disposed of his butchering business at Bergalia to Mr. H. J. Thomson, who will take over on 1st Sept. Unless we get 8 or 10 inches of rain very soon, the water supply will be a serious problem. Even now there is little or no water in the creeks and wells. Our rainfall is 10 inches below the average. Mr. H. Malone, who runs a passenger service between here and Goulburn, has placed on the line a handsome Studebaker model which is certainly par excellence in appearance. Comparisons are indeed odious when we consider the luxurious mode of travelling now-a-days to that when poor old “Neddie” Corrigan carried his “fare” in an ancient coach with slow horses and string repaired harness. Eurobodalla Shire. At the monthly meeting the President, Mr. T. Flood, Crs. A. H. Annetts, R. J. Anderson, H. J. Bate and A. Sutherland were present. Correspondence: From Bateman’s Bay Progress Association re pump for Camp Street well. The Engineer was instructed to purchase a suitable pump; From Moruya Progress Association re trees and tree planting. Permission was granted to plant the trees and to erect the guards, all work to be done to the satisfaction of the Shire Engineer; From W. J. Crapp. Central Tilba re purchase of Res. 185 Parish Narooma. The Council has no objection to the purchase of the Reserve; From A. H. Costin, Narooma, forwarding plan of subdivision of property for approval. The Council did not give approval as the lanes between a number of allotments were considered too narrow; From A. J. Annetts and others, Mogo, re erection of bathing sheds. Consideration was held over pending further information. Extracted from the Moruya Examiner by the Moruya and District Historical Society Inc.

Wednesday, 9th August Perfect weather with cloudless blue skies saw 22 players turn out to play a 2BBB. As reflected by the scores it was a closely contested event with the winner’s circle achieving fantastic scores. 1st Place: Joan Hosking & Vicki Goodwin with 44 points 2nd Place: Jan Lumsden & Barbara Kennedy with 42 points on C/B Pace Getters Val Nixon & Shirley Noy (42 C/B), Val Moore & Barbara Roberts (41) Noelene Cowdroy & Marilyn Bingham (40) Photo: Vicki Goodwin and Joan Hosking

Results – Saturday 12th August 2023 – Elimination Finals Jindabyne “Bushpigs” 47 beat ADFA 34 ADFA pushed hard and looked like an upset with 15 minutes to go however the Bushpigs kicked into gear for 3 converted tries to storm home Crookwell “Dogs” 48 beat Hall “Bushrangers” 14 Crookwell had a clear plan to nullify the Hall attack and controlled the game from start to finish Next weekend – Saturday 19th August 2023 – Grand Final Jindabyne “Bushpigs” v Crookwell “Dogs” @ Jindabyne 2.30 kick off This sets up an exciting Grand Final. Although Jindabyne are undefeated & have a home ground advantage Crookwell have been clinical all year with only one loss. The result may come down to who has the least penalties & control territory.

A man has been charged after a boy was injured in an alleged hit and run at Nowra at the weekend. Emergency services were called to a roundabout on Wallace and St Anns Streets about 6.30pm Saturday (12 August 2023), following reports a boy had been hit. Officers attached to South Coast Police District attended and were told the 14-year-old boy was riding a scooter when he was allegedly struck by a white ute. The teen was treated at the scene by NSW Ambulance paramedics for leg injuries before being taken to Shoalhaven Hospital in a stable condition. Police will allege the driver failed to stop and officers from the Crash Investigation Unit were called to assist with inquiries. About 7pm yesterday (Sunday 13 August 2023), an 18-year-old man handed himself in to Nowra Police Station and was arrested. He has been charged with three offences, dangerous driving occasioning grievous bodily harm, negligent driving occasioning grievous bodily harm, and fail to stop and assist after impact occasioning grievous bodily harm. The man was granted bail to appear in Nowra Local Court on Tuesday 26 September 2023. His licence has been suspended.

With less than a month to the next fire season the Tuross Head Rural Fire Brigade are inviting the Tuross Head community to one of three meetings to look at how they can prepare for the coming fire season. As well as delivering the invitation to the community by way of The Beagle and social media the brigade members have also letterboxed those on the Highway, Hector McWilliam, Trafalgar, Clive Park and Chatham Park. The meetings will take place as follows: • Residents living west of the Princes Highway: ​​Monday 7th August. • Residents of the cluster developments adjoining the heritage grasslands (Forest Lake Close, Hawdons Cove, Bass Ridge and Casuarina Grove): ​Thursday 10th August • Residents of Tuross Head village and cluster developments closer to the village: ​​​​​​​​​Monday 14th August All meetings will be at Kyla Park Hall starting at 6pm. The community are encouraged to come along with questions and suggestions to help the Tuross Head Rural Fire Brigade plan and prepare their community for the coming fire season. Some background reading for Tuross Head residents: A correspondence to Eurobodalla Council (31st May 2023) was delivered a via letter under the signature of a representative solicitor. The letter to Council opened with: The Tuross Head Progress Association Inc. (THPA) has been requesting Eurobodalla Shire Council for over five years to reduce bushfire risk at Tuross by thinning overgrown bush along specific roadways in Tuross headland. The main concerns have been along Hector McWilliam Drive and Trafalgar Road. All copies of correspondence are available. These areas have been selected because they consist of large portions of heavily timbered bushland on council reserves on West to Southwest facing slopes. Due to the predominantly eucalyptus bush involved; the steep angle of the mainly rising ground; the frequent impact of this area by very strong winds; this large area is considered to be a likely and major pathway for fire into Tuross residential areas. Apart from roads at the top of the rise, much of this thick bushland is inaccessible to vehicles of any sort. Importantly, this large bush area is immediately adjacent to the roads at or near the crest of the rise. These roads form the single and ONLY way in and out of Tuross. If a fire quickly reaches these roads, over 2000 permanent residents and up to 3000 ADDITIONAL VISITORS DURING HOLIDAYS, could be trapped on the headland. Even a small fire is likely to spread quickly , beyond the capacity of our volunteer Tuross RFS Fire Brigade, which may not be quickly supported by other units because of the blocked access. THPA believe that the Rural Fire Service determination in the past that these council reserves are a low fire risk is now almost certainly out of date, based on the standard RFS mathematical calculation on fire loading for fire-fighting purposes. This type of calculation does not take emergency egress of the public into account. Regardless of high or low risk determination by the RFS, the THPA considers many of our Council owned reserves to currently be a likely and significant pathway for ANY active wind-borne fire into our residential areas. The THPA is very concerned about public safety and the likely tragic cost to humans, property, wildlife and unique flora (eg our Norfolk pines) if a wildfire reaches the residential areas. In the past, Council has considered Tuross relatively safe because of the incorrect assumption that we are "surrounded by water". Tuross is NOT surrounded by water, it is effectively a wide, and well-wooded peninsular subject to coastal winds, grassfires from adjacent rural leases and wind-borne fire from nearby bushland. Council appears in the past to also have ignored the possibility that an accidental fire could be initiated within Tuross, that could spread quickly to or from the Council reserves. This could be initiated for example, by a vehicle or residential fire, children playing or lightning strike. The danger posed by council owned bushland on this headland was clearly illustrated to the entire township of Tuross during the Black Summer Bushfires of 2019/20. The town was inundated by hot wind-borne thick smoke and masses of airborne burnt fire debris with falling parched leaves. By pure luck, there was a last-minute wind change near Turlinjah, which turned the massive firestorm. THPA acknowledges that a cost is involved in this recommended mitigation. This is why THPA has requested a "thinning" of vegetation from the roadside, not removal of large trees which is also an environmental consideration. As these roads are designated 'tourist drive', the resultant 'park like' roadside reserves will become a visual asset as well as a fire buffer. Government grant funding may be available for fire mitigation works. Since the Black Summer fires, scientists predict worse extremes of weather including fires, due to Climate Change. Residents are very concerned and at a recent general meeting of THPA the members unanimously voted for THPA to continue to lobby Council to carry out the work requested to reduce bushfire risk in Tuross. Recent rain has increased vegetation growth, especially at low ground levels — and there is now likely a much higher fuel loading in the reserves - and still no council action. THPA has noted our concerns by letter to RFS and in a submission to the current Bushfire Risk Management Plan survey. THPA is now also examining in detail the recommendations and the implementation progress of the NSW Bushfire Enquiry and the National Natural Disasters Royal Commission (Bushfire Royal Commission). THPA wishes to develop an understanding of Council's response to the accepted recommendations of these very important investigations. Emergency Evacuation Centre In addition, please note - THPA will write to Council separately about the need for Council support to establish a properly equipped Emergency Evacuation Centre (EEC) located, not 23 kilometers away in Moruya, but here in Tuross. Recommendation — EEC to be established either at the Kyla Park Community Hall (owned by Council) or, with owner consent, the Tuross Head Country Club, or both. This facility is required for people who cannot reach the designated emergency center's in Moruya or Narooma if fire blocks the single route in/out of Tuross, or indeed the highway. THPA understands the financial issues and we believe grant funding should be available from State and Federal government to assist this worthy and necessary work to ensure the safety of Tuross residents. As the owner of the abovementioned public reserves in Tuross Head, the Council has a duty of care and a liability to mitigate fire risk on those reserves to ensure the safety of residents and property in Tuross residential areas. Obviously, any fire is likely to approach from the west, or southwest. The Tuross Head Progress Association, seek you to address is on the western side of the residential area of Tuross, and, partly on the western side of Hector McWilliam Drive. This area that our client seeks to have fire mitigation carried out on is set out and illustrated in the attached aerial map marked "A". Therefore, it is again requested that Council undertake the relatively minor bushfire mitigation work on council bushland alongside Trafalgar Road (esp between No.3 and No.21) and Hector McWilliam Drive before the next bushfire season. It is requested that you include this in this year's works program. Please respond as soon as convenient. Eurobodalla Council responded to the solicitors' letter (13 June 2023) to questions asked above by the Tuross Head Progress Association: Given the concerns raised regarding potential liability for Council with respect to bushfire mitigation works, a separate response on this matter will be forwarded to you from Council’s solicitors. Regarding the second matter referred to in your correspondence, we provide the following information on evacuation centres. An Evacuation Centre is defined as a safe place which provides disaster affected people with basic human needs including accommodation, food and water. Eurobodalla Shire has three main designated evacuation centres in Batemans Bay, Moruya and Narooma. These sites have been chosen due to their location close to the major town centres, size and facilities available. Evacuation centres are established and managed by the Welfare Services Functional Area and Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) in consultation with the relevant agencies involved in the event and the evacuation centre owner. DCJ would not be able to resource opening additional smaller evacuation centres across the Shire or access evacuation centres in locations where access has been blocked. FACT: "DCJ would not be able to resource opening additional smaller evacuation centres". In the case of the Kyla Hall it has a Hall committee that has keys, as does the Tuross Head Progress Association. As for volunteers Communities and Justice (DCJ) state: The Emergency Management Training is available HERE The council response continues: The vast majority of Tuross Head is well suited to stay in place during a bushfire event provided residents are well prepared and are physically and mentally capable of defending their property. For the majority of Tuross Head homes, this defence relates to putting out embers however we encourage all residents to make direct contact with the Rural Fire Service for advice specific to the resilience and preparation of their own property and to reference the RFS website for further information at: https://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/ We encourage all residents to develop a bushfire survival plan. For those properties on the fringes of Tuross Head and adjacent to bushland, the risk is naturally higher. The location of the Kyla Park Community Hall is in a higher risk location than many locations/properties in Tuross Head. FACT CHECK: NOTE the area of KYLA HALL is NOT marked as being bush fire prone land, let alone a "higher risk location than many locations/properties in Tuross Head". Unless residents are well prepared and physically and mentally capable of defending their property from more intense direct fire impacts, then they should leave early to one of the three main town centres (Moruya, Narooma or Batemans Bay) based on the advice given at that time. These messages were consistently provided to the community during the Black Summer bushfires and will be provided in the future as well. If residents are unable to leave Tuross Head in a particular circumstance, then they should seek refuge first with family and friends in a safer location, or as a last resort seek refuge at the nominated Neighbourhood Safer Place (NSP), as determined by the RFS and updated on their website from time to time. The RFS has nominated one of the NSPs as the open area near the Club. Image source FACT CHECK: The RFS have nominated two NFPs in Tuross Head, the second being at Kyla Oval, possibly due to the fact it is not, according to Council's own Bushfire Prone mapping, "higher risk location than many locations/properties in Tuross Head". We note that the Tuross Head County Club (THCC) opened their doors during the Black Summer fires however any future voluntary role the THCC wished to play in a future emergency situation due to a natural disaster, would be at the discretion of the Club. We remain supportive of any measures all clubs (Council has previously supported grant applications made by the THCC), businesses and residents take to make their properties and operations more resilient to natural disasters. We trust the information provided above satisfies your query on evacuation centres.