Goulburn Mulwaree Council stands by outreach meeting cancellation

But his attempt to resurrect outreach meetings held in Goulburn Mulwaree towns and villages failed to win support on Tuesday.

He told the ordinary meeting that things had loosened up sufficiently with coronavirus to resurrect the forums, usually held in the latter part of the year.

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"I think it's necessary to keep up the contact between the rural areas and this council chamber," he said.

"I made a speech at the mayoral and deputy mayoral elections that I didn't presume to be re-elected (at the September, 2021 general poll) but this could be the last time (the outreach meetings) are held. This is a good opportunity to show faith in the way they're conducted."

Cr Walker was responding to general manager Warwick Bennett's recommendation that the outreach sessions be cancelled until "uncertainties and restrictions" surrounding COVID-19 were addressed at a state level. None have been held this year, in line with an August resolution.

Newsletters were subsequently distributed to villages stating individual meetings could be arranged with staff and/or councillors if they wanted to discuss issues.

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In addition, communities were told to stop accumulating discretionary funds allocated annually by the council and to spend them on identified projects before Christmas.

Mr Bennett said it was difficult to control numbers and ensure social distancing at the outreach forums and people, predominantly over 50 years old, were vulnerable

"There is no indication that the COVID-19 pandemic guidelines on non-essential meetings will change or are likely to change until a vaccine is developed," he reported.

In addition, the usual light supper could not be served, "reducing the opportunity for informal interaction."

Each village and town venue has a COVID safe plan restricting numbers. In Windellama's case, it is 33 people in the hall.

Cr Walker argued this could be managed as numbers often didn't reach 20 if there were no controversial issues.

"A lot of comments I get from rural people are that we don't give a damn about them, so this is the only opportunity we have (to meet with them)," he said.

"...I understand that councillors can't attend from time to time and if we only go with four and one staff member, let's do it."

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But Cr Leah Ferrara said while the meetings were very useful and she loved attending, working in a COVID-safe environment had made her cautious.

"It would put a lot of pressure on these villages having us coming out," she said.

"How do we decide who comes? If more people (than we expect) turn up, do we tell them to go away...I would rather do them properly like we have in the past."

Cr Ferrara said she and planning director Scott Martin had participated in a zoom hook-up with Bungonia residents recently to discuss discretionary expenditure.

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Councillors voted against the Deputy Mayor's motion to conduct the forums in February and March. Instead, they will only be held when the State lifts restrictions.

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