Mr Hodgson said a circular from the Department of Local Government to Shoalhaven City Council had instructed that major decisions affecting the area should not be undertaken during the ‘caretaker’ period leading up to the election on

August 4.

Mr Hodgson said certain councillors had pulled out all stops to get the rezoning through before that date.

“It’s an absolute disgrace. A total disregard for residents,” he said.

“What motive has council got to be pushing for this? There is something wrong here.

“The fact they are now relying on a rezoning rather than relying on the DA, tells me that they know they have no chance against us in court with this,” he said.

Shoalhaven City Council’s director of strategic planning Ernie Royston said council, under instruction from State Government had to rezone the Jaspers Brush airfield

area because there is no longer any provision for its current 1G zoning.

“We don’t have to zone that area for airport use, special use, but councillors in the workshops saw it as an important facility for the area,” Mr Royston said.

Council’s general manager Russ Pigg said he would be looking at all the issues raised in relation with the draft LEP and will be talking further with the Strategic Planning Group.