Point Frederick residents might want to acquaint themselves with the draft Somersby to Erina Southern Growth Corridor policy which council is about to put on public exhibition.
The Mayor, Jane Smith, says it holds some surprises, particularly noting the treatment suggested for Point Frederick as an increased density housing option.
She tried to get the document off the public table for some more internal finessing, warning the community needed to be engaged before the policy went out on exhibition.
But she lost the vote so it is going on public exhibition for 60 days. Basically it is a masterplan for future zoning and development between Somersby and Erina.
Three community advisory committees were agreed to last night so take note if you’re interested in companion animals, tourism or pedestrian access and mobility.
The first two are looking for expressions of interest from people to join the committees. The pedestrian committee has already found five members and will meet soon.
Another vision statement – this time for Ourimbah – is also going out on public exhibition but this document is up to the final stage. It has been to the public for comment before and it has now come back to them with changes that reduce some of the impacts to certain areas.
The council has opted in to the State Government campaign to enforce the wearing of life jackets when people are fishing from rock ledges. So, if you’re a fisher-person: you need to wear a life jacket from now on. It could save your life so it’s possibly not a bad idea?
The other highlights of the meeting were for the voting patterns so this next bit is only for the die-hards.
The Mayor, Jane Smith, used her casting vote a number of times because ALP councillor Doug Vincent wasn’t there.
That meant the numbers were 5 ALP; 4 Liberals; and five independents.
Crs Best, Holstein and McLachlan will often vote with the Liberals while Smith and Greenaway will often vote with the ALP.
Last night when the vote was 7-7, the Mayor used her casting (or second) vote to make the final decision.
On the airport legal advice she voted with the ALP to get that matter through.
On the Winney Bay issue, she didn’t need her casting vote as Cr Holstein voted with the ALP.
The Mayor used her casting vote against the Cr Best proposal for an economic relationship with Newcastle Council. The Liberal councillors supported the proposal.
She used it again to opt in with the State Government’s push for lifejackets for fisher people. This time she sided with Cr Best.
The Mayor also used her casting vote to go with Cr Best and the Liberal councillors who wanted the companion animal committee. She challenged Cr Best to chair the committee and when he finally agreed he would so, she said she would use her casting vote to “give him something to do”.
When the Mayor wanted to hold back the draft policy for the Erina to Somersby growth corridor she only received support from Crs Greenaway and MacGregor.
Want more detail? My Facebook page has 17 posts from the November 12 meeting.
And here is the YouTube link to the livestream.
