How exquisite - the Bloviator!

At the Shoalhaven City Council meeting of July 21, a motion was put by Councillor Pakes to condemn the Shoalhaven Greens, who hold four seats on council, for allegedly "encouraging its members to boycott local businesses".

The so called evidence produced was an anonymous text message (not from a member of the Greens) sent to unknown recipients. The text does not call on people to boycott businesses nor show any connection to the Greens. The second 'evidence' was an item from a Greens email that likewise does not call for any boycott nor mention any business.

A majority of councillors present (two had left in protest, one had been ejected) voted in favour of the motion.

So, we have a motion passed by some councillors condemning other councillors for something that they know never happened, that they know was false, presumably for some perceived political advantage to themselves.

And so a significant amount of council meeting time is wasted and spent not attending to council business, at considerable cost to ratepayers.

Councillor Pakes and the complicit so called 'Shoalhaven Independents' who voted for this motion must be roundly condemned by all who favour honesty and integrity on council.

Consistency and transparency coming from Cr Pakes is laughable. To read Cr Pakes question the behaviour of other Councillors is just deplorable. In my mind and I'm sure in many others, Cr Pakes is one of the most poorly behaved councillors I have ever seen. Stop putting your own factions first and do your job and represent the community of Shoalhaven and stop these petty carry on in council meeting.

The forgotten people of Callala Bay/Beach, would like to see Shoalhaven councillors concentrate on improving the infrastructure to make our roads safer for cyclists and pedestrians, as well as better manage the growing influx of tourists to this area.

The roads are dangerous, with potholes, there is inadequate drainage, kerb and guttering, promoting infestations of mosquitoes and diseases.

Political infighting helps no one and a dysfunctional council only distracts from the issues at hand.

The last few months has shown the ingenuity and resourcefulness of the Australian public by cardboard manufacturers changing to make PPE and brewing companies adapting to produce hand sanitiser.

Now is the time to set up new industries, such as producing solar panels, electric bikes and folding electric scooters. Instead of increasing our motorways all the time, start making cycle paths for commuters.

Perhaps we can even go so far as to making small electric cars. Make simple cars with standard components across a couple of models.

We have relied on other countries for our commodities for too long. Our main objective should be to produce food, not only for ourselves but for the rest of the world.