Port Stephens Council meeting deferred due to lack of a quorum

The council's governance section manager Tony Wickham confirmed on Wednesday that the March 8 council meeting was unable to proceed due to the lack of a quorum

"A quorum of six councillors and/or mayor would be required to attend the meeting. At last night's meeting, only five councillors were present."

The five councillors to attend were Ryan Palmer, Steve Tucker, Chris Doohan, Matt Bailey and Glen Dunkley (via weblink) while Giacomo Arnott, Leah Anderson, Peter Francis, Jason Wells and Peter Kafer did not attend.

Cr Doohan hit out at the absent councillors, calling it the "most shameful and pathetic stunt" he had witnessed in his nine years on the council.

"A mass of certain party aligned councillors did not turn up, ensuring there were not enough to form a quorum. Why? Your rates pay these people to do a job, which the main part is to turn up to the official meetings and vote accordingly. Even now we have Zoom as an option if you can't be there live."

Cr Arnott said that he was feeling unwell and that he had one of the highest attendance rates of the previous council.

"It's only my third time ever missing a council meeting so hopefully that helps understand how seriously I weighed up my health against my job. Fortunately I am feeling better now.

"Cr Doohan and others have missed many council meetings and I don't remember ever questioning why they've missed meetings, so I'm feeling bewildered about why Cr Doohan's come out so strongly for me missing my third ever meeting.

"His behaviour doesn't create much goodwill for what I and many others were hoping would be a much more reasonable council."

Cr Anderson said that she had advised the general manager directly of her apology before the meeting commenced while it is understood that Cr Kafer had lodged his apology prior to the meeting.

On the agenda were two highly controversial rescission motions which are now expected to be debated on March 22.

The first referred to 109 Foreshore Drive, Salamander Bay, a 557 sqm waterfront property which has been at the centre of a battle between five councillors wanting to sell the land to fund a range of "urgent community works" and the five who want the land rezoned and retained for community use.

The second issue concerned the potential sale of council owned land in Squire Street, Fingal Bay.

The decision from the February 22 meeting to approve the proposed sale was the subject of a rescission motion, this time from councillors Palmer, Tucker and Doohan.

Following the successful rally and picnic held early this month at 109 Foreshore Drive, the Mambo-Wanda Wetlands Conservation Group has organised a vigil to take place on Sunday, March 20 from 6pm.

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