DEAR News Of The Area,
AT the Council meeting held on Thursday 28 August, 2025, there was a motion to endorse recommendations from the 2025/26 Environmental Levy Grants Program Panel.
Various organisations had applied for funding.
Sixteen submissions were received and 11 submissions were recommended for approval.
Mayor Williams added an additional point to this motion, which was that Council “prepares a Vegetation Management Plan for the Jetty Foreshores precinct to inform all future revegetation works to be funded by the Environmental Levy Reserve (Strategic Programs) in 2025/26.”
Mayor Williams introduced this on the night and Councillors had absolutely no forewarning, and thus, had absolutely no background information or time to make an informed decision.
The Mayor herself did not appear to know the extent of the boundaries of this plan and was later contradicted by the General Manager.
The cost of this Vegetation Management Plan was estimated by the General Manager to be $50,000.
Surely, a decision like this, which entails spending $50,000 of ratepayers’ money, should not have to be made on the night. Where is the due process in this regard? Why the urgency?
Why could this not have waited until the next meeting and the councillors be given a full briefing of what this Vegetation Management Plan entails?
How does this vegetation management plan fit in with the State Government’s plans for the Jetty Foreshore?
Has Dunecare been consulted prior to this decision?
Where is the transparency that the Mayor keeps talking about?
Lots of questions.
Councillors Williams, Fowler, Oxford, Cecato and Saro voted for this motion.
Councillors Cassell, Judge, Sechi and Amos voted against.
Regards,
Helen OLIVER,
Coffs Harbour.
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