HEATED debate broke out at the Shoalhaven City Council Development Committee meeting last week, leaving Huskisson resident Leslie Lockwood feeling intimidated and discouraged.
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Ms Lockwood made a deputation on behalf of the Huskisson Woollamia Community Voice to the development committee regarding changes to the development control plan for area of Huskisson.
Previously the height restriction for some precincts in Huskisson was three storeys or 10 metres, however an amendment was implemented by council allowing developments to exceed 10 metres.
Ms Lockwood said she was asking councillors to explain why the changes had been implemented when Councillor Bohdan Brumerskyj became hostile towards her.
“The way he reacted was just not appropriate, I answered his questions and there was no need to go on like he did,” she said.
“I was just asking councillors to explain why certain aspects of the development control plan have changed, but he was alluding that I was calling council corrupt and kept trying to get me to say that.”
Ms Lockwood said she was very discouraged by the behaviour of Cr Brumerskyj and deputy mayor Andrew Guile.
Cr Brumerskyj said he was extremely frustrated by Ms Lockwood and claimed she called council “deceitful” despite it conducting a thorough community consultation process.
“We have gone to extensive lengths to consult the community. I appreciate Leslie putting herself forward but I wasn’t just going to sit there and cop abuse when council has gone to every length to include her and the wider community,” he said.
Cr Brumerskyj said council had held three community consultation meetings to discuss the issue, which were all run by an independent party.
Council received a number of submissions regarding the proposed changes and, according to Cr Brumerskyj, the majority were in favour of change.
“We received submissions from several landowners in the area and all landowners are potential developers.
“A report was commissioned by staff and the recommendation was that council needed to increase height restrictions to allow for the style of developments that are appropriate to that area.”
A Huskisson landowner who had previously made a submission also presented a deputation at the meeting and presented council with a development proposal.
“He showed us drawings and plans but as I tried to point out we weren’t debating that proposal, we were debating the development control plan.
“Until that landowner submits a development application to council the whole thing is just a pipe dream.”
Cr Brumerskyj said that if members of the community wished to accuse council of misconduct they would be held accountable.
