Following Monday night’s crime meeting at Sanctuary Point, Greens councillor Amanda Findley brought forward two urgent motions to Tuesday night’s council meeting to try to address some of the concerns raised by residents.

She asked council to start a petition that supported additional police resources for the area and that council tap into its massive data base of community organisations as a first point of contact.

Neither motions gained support

“Shoalhaven Council showed a lack of commitment to get behind a community push for action,” Cr Findley said.

“Councillors were unwilling to support the call for the petition as they feared it was a ‘political action’.

“Of course it’s a political action – that’s what we do on a daily basis by trying to influence other levels of government.

“Other councillors claimed it was pointless as one petition was under way and another had been promised by MP Shelley Hancock.

“I believe another petition would complement any petition work already started and would really drive the community message home.”

Cr Findley also asked council to write to the Health Minister and outline concerns about the drug ice and the lack of rehab places and support services for suffering families.

“I was surprised when this was also fobbed of and I was told to wait as Shelley Hancock was in talks ‘right now’ with the minister on this very issue,” she said.

“Council has a role to play in these issues, especially one that supports the work of local politicians. We simply can’t sit back and wait for others to do this work for us.”

Shoalhaven Mayor Joanna Gash said Cr Findley’s motions were nothing more than political.

“Cr Findley called for another petition to be started by council calling for more police,” Cr Gash said.

“How many petitions do we need?

“This was purely a political issue for her. Her motion didn’t even get a seconder.

“There are so many petitions, everyone is trying their hardest.”