The meeting, organised by a group called “Concerned Citizens of the Eurobodalla”, follows a business-only meeting in January, at which there were calls for a public meeting to mobilise a push for council reform.

Organiser David Lambert said the public could have a say on council’s performance, as well as potential amalgamation with another council, or councils.

Bega MP Andrew Constance has been invited and on Monday confirmed he would attend.

“What we’re hoping will come out of it isn’t necessarily ‘a deliverable’, it is an understanding,” Mr Lambert said.

“People will go away with an understanding of what an amalgamation might mean for them, what it might mean for Batemans Bay, and I guess expressing that view to the local member.”

Mr Lambert said calls for amalgamation or shire boundary adjustments were coming from a “large number of very concerned citizens of Batemans Bay”.

“They are saying the performance of this council (is having an) adverse impact, particularly in Batemans Bay, to the local economy,” he said.

“When we look at neighbouring shires and we look at the Shoalhaven powering ahead economically, and with a larger range of services than what is available in the Eurobodalla, then there is a lot of

people saying there is something wrong with this shire.”

Mr Lambert said councillors “thumbed their noses” at the resolutions of January’s business meeting, which included calls for council to overhaul its planning and infrastructure departments, implement a strategy to address its detrimental policies, and take immediate steps to withdraw its rate rise application.

However, he said, he hoped the council would listen. 

“If this continues, there will be a

message that will get across to this council that there is a large number of people very, very dissatisfied with their performance,” he said.

“This is really up to the council either to improve their game or get the message across to our NSW Government, that maybe this council is due to have a big shake-up.”

Councillors have not been formally invited, Mr Lambert said, as “anybody who is a ratepayer or a resident of the Eurobodalla can attend”.

“You don’t have to give a special

invitation to them,” Mr Lambert said.

The meeting will be held at the Batemans Bay Soldiers’ Club from 3pm.

“Every diverse opinion will be heard,” Mr Lambert said.

Councillors, MP to attend, page 8

Related coverage: MP, councillors back meeting