Residents of West Nowra said the suburb is in need of basic services and infrastructure upgrades, with some feeling unsafe due to the lack of pathways and others out of pocket for organising their own garbage waste pick ups.
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Bob Dix, who has lived in West Nowra for over 10 years, expressed that he shouldn't have to pay for a private contractor to collect his garbage.
"Council won't take their trucks down the dirt road. It costs $120 every four weeks to pay a private contractor to come and take the garbage away," he said.
"I'm not the only resident that hasn't got garbage service, the other residents take theirs into town to the tip."
He also called for upgrades to be made to the roads so postal services can access the area.
"We don't get any post, we pay to get a parcel delivered and we have to go pick up the parcel ourself because they won't take their trucks out on the dirt road either," said Mr Dix.
Ward One Shoalhaven City Council candidate Serena Copley met with West Nowra residents this morning to call on the council to provide infrastructure to the area.
She stressed the importance of improving the roads and said the lack of footpaths in the area pose as a danger to residents who use mobility scooters to access the Nowra CBD.
"Over the last few months, I have met with many West Nowra residents who are frankly fed up with feeling forgotten by Shoalhaven City Council," Ms Copley said.
"I have spoken to a number of residents who are on motorized scooters negotiating the road due to the lack of footpaths.
"They are vulnerable members of our communities, and they are on the roads with big heavy duty trucks, and school buses, that is a situation that cannot be allowed to continue. There must be some footpaths installed for access."
Bringing the matter to the attention to council on a previous occasion, Ms Copley said Shoalhaven Mayor Amanda Findley responded that West Nowra was not a priority.
"Our mayor told me the West Nowra picnic area was not a priority. I would like to say that the people standing behind me here today would disagree with that, and would feel that they are a priority," said Ms Copley.
"They're paying their rate. They're just as much a part of our Shoalhaven City Council as any other resident, and yet they are putting up with substandard services and have done for years."
However, Shoalhaven Mayor Amanda Findley rejects that she claimed West Nowra is not a priority.
She also said council has been doing works at the West Nowra Farm Depot, and upgrades to the West Nowra roads will be coming within the next 12 months.
"Council is aware there are issues in West Nowra, particularly along Yalwal Road and that there is a desperate need to continue the footpath from Flat Rock Dam down to Albatross Road," she said.
"I was the one who put an original motion to council about six years ago to get that footpath started. Council is also working on cleaning up car bodies at the Depot Farm."
"Over the years, council has expanded its rural waste collection. If residents are seeking to have their place put on collection...they need to get in contact with council to make a request to see if there are any barriers as to why they're not getting a waste service."
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Grace Crivellaro
Court reporter for the Illawarra Mercury.
Court reporter for the Illawarra Mercury.
