I put a motion to Council requesting " A comprehensive briefing on the Yerriyong Motor Sports facility for affected residents including those at Parma and Yerriyong".
Residents around Parma and Yerriyong are understandably concerned about Motorcycling NSW's plans to bring a racing track to Nowra.
Motorcycling NSW has been in conversation with representative of Shoalhaven City Council on numerous occasions to discuss land near Albatross that is owned by The Crown and could possibly be used for a new racing track.
However these discussions have been under confidentiality agreement and the content is not to be discussed outside of the agreement.
So here lies the problem- at this point in time the residents have heard rumours and innuendo but nothing from Council or Motorcycling NSW.
Council did issue a media release in June 2012 "Welcoming the proposal"
Then there was this piece in the South Coast Register "Yerriyong Race track edges to pole position"
And this one "Revved up for track plan"
or check out the conversation page at the local club
"Track would get hoons of the road"
"Good process is very important"
this little gem 'Mayor accuses NSW Gov for holding up raceway plan"
and what about the info available via Shoalhaven motor sports website.
"Shoalhaven Multipurpose Motor sport Facility"
and here is the mud map
Shoalhaven Motor sports
Yet when debating the motion in Council- Clr John Wells declared that if he was asked by the public what was going on he would say 'nothing' - he bases this 'nothing' on the fact that a Development Application has not been received by Council on the proposal.
Councillors clearly know a little more than nothing and the community deserve to know at the very least what Council is ABLE to tell them. Not to hide behind the confidentiality barriers. At least then community members would feel like there is open dialogue with Council. I think Motorcycles NSW should also come down and talk to the community and not be a faceless organisation.
Openness, transparency, accountability is what team gash promised the community and I offered them an opportunity to support my motion and prove themselves in this area of governance. However Team Gash choose not to support the motion 'for there is nothing to talk about' and this leaves the community to listen to the rumour and innuendo and receive no support from their Council when it comes to information. Sorry Yerriyong and Parma residents there will be no briefing.
2 comments:
In the 3 years since this post, regrettably The Greens have been totally silent on the proposed destruction of virgin bush land and issues related to endangered species. Most disappointing.
Hi Anonymous - I totally understand why you feel disappointed, but I am the only Green member on Council. Even though all Councillors make decisions for all of the City, I was elected in Ward 3 and during the last 3 years I have had to focus on Ward 3 issues - I am just spread far to thin. I may not have been loud in the newspapers but every opportunity I have had I have nor supported the Motorcycling NSW plans. I think the Council did the residents a great disservice by not doing some pre checking with the residents. Instead they just barreled head long into a project where most of the issues could have been avoided if they had done some work up front.
Sorry that I have disappointed you, but as one person its simply not possible for me to be across every single issue, every single time.
Regards
Amanda Findley
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