DURING a Shoalhaven City Council committee meeting cut short because of mayoral commitments at the Nowra branch of the Liberal Party and a community forum in Berry to protest the proposed Rockfield Park eco resort, an extraordinary decision was taken to help out Woolworths. Yes, Woolworths, the multibillion dollar retail giant.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
It is understood ratepayers will foot roughly $170,000 so the retail chain can adhere to threatened provisions governing the site and use an access road via the Bay and Basin Leisure Centre. Apparently, the retailer has come into trouble over the endangered bristlebird and called on council to bail it out.
Because the decision was arrived at behind closed doors in confidential session, we can’t tell you the reasoning behind a cash-strapped council helping out one of the most profitable enterprises in Australia so it can set up shop in another local location and make even more profit.
It might seem a trifling sum to Woolworths but to many a community group or library or understaffed department, it would be a king’s ransom. But, again, the decision was made in secret so we can’t tell you why it was thought more appropriate to direct this money to Woolworths rather than the community.
The long-suffering residents of the Bay and Basin have waited a long time for the development which over the years has been whittled down and delayed. Now, they are being asked to shell out money for it to become a reality.
Some transparency here would not go astray. Let’s hope council brings its reasoning behind this decision out into the open.