“If you want a really good leveler, there is nothing like a nine-year old child,” Cr Innes said.

The mayor sat down with the Bay Post/Moruya Examiner for a wide-ranging discussion about her second term as a councillor and first as mayor on Tuesday morning, September 19.

Cr Innes said the current council was more united than the previous administration.

“Before, we had a lot of conflict in the chamber,” she said.

“We had a lot of people grandstanding – I was probably a part of that too.”

Cr Innes said respect between councillors was crucial.

“The most common threat is one of respect,” she said.

“I was very clear with the councillors – and they all came on board absolutely – that, even if we have differing opinions, if we are respectful, then we are going to go a long way.”

“That (respect) is reflected in the chamber and equally reflected outside of the chamber.”

She would like to see more respect in the community’s dealings with the council.

“Yes, at times you can feel people’s frustration (but) … we are human beings and also members of the community,” she said.

“When approached by somebody who is feeling very heated about a subject – if it is done aggressively or in a manner that is not constructive –  walls go up.”

She said it was easy to criticise, but when people came to the council with not only an issue, but a potential solution, problems were solved.

Many Bay Post/Moruya Examiner are upset at the prospect of losing a 50-metre pool when a new aquatic centre is built.

Asked if Gilmore federal MP Ann Sudmalis could help fund a 50-meter pool for the proposed aquatic centre, Cr Innes said issue was ongoing costs.

“We could ask her for the extra $6.5 million, … but if we are going to be responsible to the community, we need to consider what this will cost ongoing,” Cr Innes said.

She said the aquatic centre would provide for a broad cross-section of the community and, by increasing the number of paying users, the burden wouldn’t fall on rate payers.

“My children are going to grow up in the shire,” Cr Innes said.

“I  need to ensure what we deliver is something we can afford.”

Asked if other council projects – such as the Mystery Shopper Customer Service program – could be cut to fund pool costs, they mayor said the shortfall was too much.

“Even if we were to sacrifice the secret shopper, that would supply very little of the funding going forward that is required to run the facility,” Cr Innes said.

“It is too good an opportunity to miss because we are quibbling about 50 meters or 25 meters – let’s get in and deliver what is in front of us.”

You can watch Bay Post/Moruya Examiner’s 20-minute ‘live’ interview with the Eurobodalla Shire mayor on our FaceBook page.