Councillors met at the bustling Bodalla Bakery for the final community catchup of their elected term on Wednesday 19 June.
In attendance were: Mayor Mathew Hatcher, councillor Alison Worthington and councillor Tubby Harrison.
Coincidentally, the Eurobodalla Vintage Car Club was also meeting at the bakery and a few members stopped to chat with councillors.
A couple asked about a pothole on Hector McWilliam Drive, Tuross, and said verges near the tennis courts needed to be mowed. Councillors raised service requests and staff are on the job.
One gentleman arrived to discuss a range of issues with councillors. He felt passionate about the disabled carparking at Dalmeny Main Beach, where access to the beach mats begin at Mummuga Lake pedestrian bridge. He asked if Council could paint a designated disabled carpark.
Councillors inquired with staff and were advised that disability parking was investigated during the implementation of the Eurobodalla Accessible Beaches project.
Council staff said the entire asphalt carpark would need to be expanded and brought up to Australian Standards before introducing disabled parking.
The carpark is currently not due for renewal but will be upgraded with two disabled carparks at some stage in the future.
Dalmeny Playground is adjacent to the Mummuga Lake pedestrian bridge. A disabled carpark and footpath extension was recently installed at the playground courtesy of funding from the accessible beaches project.
Another community member wanted to know if a bin could be placed at the picnic shelter in Nerrigundah.
Following up with Council, the waste team said there was no domestic collection service to Nerrigundah, and it wouldn’t be viable to service one bin.
Councillors and community member also discussed the Nerrigundah monument, wondering whether the Council maintained it.
“The monument is crumbling and there are weeds and thistles,” the community member said.
A video on Council’s Facebook in 2020 expresses the sentiment of the monument to the town and local police.
After the bushfires, Council’s road maintenance crews took initiative to tidy up the monument and built a retaining wall around it. However, the monument is not listed as a Council asset.
It was the last scheduled catch up before councillors go into election mode. They talked about the format of the catch ups and wondered whether the community enjoyed them.
One community member said it would be nice to see more councillors in attendance.
“I was curious who would show up today. Perhaps there should be catering because food brings people together.”
Another community member suggested: “everyone should come together and sit around one table.” Mayor Hatcher respectfully disagreed.
“I have enjoyed the pop-up style format where people can sit down with a councillor or take a walk in private if they wish,” Mayor Hatcher said.
“People can plan to attend, and we can also catch passersby.”
Councillor Catch Ups will be put to the new council who will decided whether they continue and how they might look.
