Temporary stay for Salamander Bay's most prized block of land 109 Foreshore Drive

At the Tuesday night meeting of Port Stephens Council, the 10 councillors were unanimous in their agreement that any decision on the future of the 557 sqm waterfront property be deferred until after June 30, 2022.

In an amendment to his original rescission motion set down for Tuesday night's council meeting, Mayor Ryan Palmer sought to seek a compromise on the highly contentious block of land which has been the subject of a flurry of notice of motions, mayoral minutes, rescission motions and amendments in the short period since the new council took office.

The mayor's amendment called for the establishment of a Financial Sustainable Committee (FSC), made up of all councillors, to review options to improve the council's financial sustainability; receive recommendations from the committee by June 30; and defer consideration of the sale of 109 Foreshore Drive to after the council had considered the FSC's recommendations.

The council first agreed to sell the land at its meeting held on February 22 after mayor Palmer lodged a mayoral minute and used his casting vote when the vote was deadlocked at 5-5.

He had support from councillors Steve Tucker, Chris Doohan, Glen Dunkley and Matt Bailey.

The reasoning behind the sale of the land valued at $2.6million was to pay for urgent community works.

The five councillors - Leah Anderson Giacomo Arnott, Jason Wells, Peter Francis and Peter Kafer - opposed to developing the site and keeping it in community hands as a beachfront access and koala protection zone signed a rescission motion.

The issue was expected to be debated at council's March 8 meeting, but failed to do so due to a lack of a quorum.

In the four weeks since the February 22 meeting, members of the community have lobbied councillors and state ministers to protect the land from developers, a public rally held on March 6 attracted more than 300 people and a candle-lit vigil on Sunday saw another 100 people attend.

There was an expectation of another fiery debate over the rescission motion at the March 22 meeting but this was averted when the mayor put forward a compromise in the form of a foreshadowed amendment. This was unanimously supported meaning that the status quo remains for now

"I've heard a lot about 109 Foreshore Drive ... we've had a vocal segment of the community not want that sold and others who want it sold and see things done there. [But] it's not a decision to be made tonight, we need to have a look at council's finances ... [the sale] was about plugging some holes," Cr Palmer said.

The FSC, he added, would be established to look at options - such as the SRV, property sales, reducing costs - in the new financial year for the councillors to make a decision.

Cr Anderson said the decision to defer was a fair one.

"We have listened to the concerns of the community: 300 people who turned up to the rally, a community organised online petition with 788 signatures plus 100 comments about why this sale should not happen, people who have written to ministers and taken to social media providing thoughts on why they want to fight to save 109 Foreshore Drive."

Cr Arnott said that he was pleased to see the council had listened to the community and represented their interests which he hoped would restore some trust.

Deputy mayor Tucker opened his address with: "Do I want to sell 109 Foreshore Drive? Of course not", while Cr Doohan said that he was prepared to accept holding off projects, including the footpath for Kirrang Drive, Medowie, to allow the FSC process go ahead.

Cr Kafer said that the council had to look at every dollar spent in Port Stephens on the ratepayers' behalf.

He said it was the reason why he had put forward another motion calling on the general manager "to brief councillors on parcels of land within Port Stephens that the council owns that are operational and could be sold and be used to fund projects for the community of Port Stephens in the future".

Cr Bailey said that the councillors needed to find a balance between how the council can supply infrastructure projects while trying to maintain the area's pristine environment.

"We have to take the emotion out of the argument, sit down listen to facts and listen to all parties."

Cr Dunkley said that the role of the council was to protect community, both financially and environmentally.

Earlier in the night, community representatives Kathy Brown and Roz Armstrong had addressed councillors during public access on the benefits of retaining the piece of land in community hands.

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