Blue Mountains Gazette 21 May 2008, page 1 By Damien Madigan
Opposition to the introduction of a new shopping complex in Springwood took a major step last Monday when more than 160 people resolved to fight any large scale development for the town.
Speaker after speaker at a public meeting in Springwood Sports Club attacked council over its handling of the town's revitalisation process and expressed their opposition to any change.
But the public forum was mired in controversy afterwards when it was revealed Ward 3 Clr Alison McLaren wasn't invited to attend - a fact organisers didn't mention at the meeting despite all three of Springwood's councillors repeatedly coming under fire for their absence.
Clr McLaren said it was "unfortunate" she wasn't invited to the meeting although organiser Chris Taylor said it was an "honest mistake" as he mistakenly believed the Labor councillor was in Vietnam, and therefore unable to attend. Clrs Daniel Myles and Lyn Trindall both sent apologies which were read out at the meeting.
The Ward 3 councillors were also angered by attacks on them at the meeting by Ward 2 Clr Pippa McInnes.
"I think it is dreadful that none of your Ward councillors are here tonight. I just think it's terrible that not one of those Ward 3 councillors has listened to you," she told the forum.
The Greens councillor accused her fellow councillors of not caring about residents or the community.
"The antics and the trials and tribulations that are playing out for Springwood have played out across the Mountains, where the community at large - like you - are absolutely and totally ignored by the people around the table. ... They do not listen to you. I'm sorry to say they don't care about you. They don't care about your concerns about your community," she said.
But Liberal councillor Daniel Myles dismissed Clr McInnes' remarks as election posturing.
"I'd be astonished at Clr McInnes' comments if there were not a council election in three and a half months. She was clearly speaking at some sort of campaign launch.
"This council has worked well together and over the last four years. I've not heard any councillor venture the opinions that Pippa has expressed," he said.
Clr McLaren also dismissed the remarks, saying all Ward 3 councillors "care deeply about the Springwood community and the potential redevelopment of Springwood".
"I will be listening carefully to the views of all sections of the community on this issue. It is unfortunate that Clr McInnes has not discussed here views with her council colleagues," she said.
Independent councillor Lyn Trindall said it was unfortunate Clr McInnes had "brought local politics into the Springwood revitalisation project."
"I would like to point out that there has been a lot of scaremongering and distasteful antics being bandied around the Springwood area. As one of the hard working Ward 3 councillors I have supported the revitalisation process thus far in attempting to assist the difficult situation that many of the shopkeepers in Springwood have expressed, as well as senior residents, single parents and those on benefits."
Clr Trindall said the revitalisation process had the potential to lead to cheaper grocery prices for low income earners as well as renewed community and civic facilities.
"If Clr McInnes could genuinely say that she, and not other councillors, had spent hours of her time working with local community services and organisation in and around Springwood, identifying their need for updated and larger premises, I would say that her comments at the recent meeting in Springwood were valid, but it has not been proven. Clr McInnes is viewing the issue from a very limited viewpoint," she said.
Despite the repudiation of her remarks after the meeting, Clr McInnes had the overwhelming support of residents at the forum. The meeting's chairperson was met with jeers and slow hand clapping when he interrupted her for using the event as a "political forum".
Over almost two hours speakers repeated their opposition to change and the prospect of Coles or Woolworths coming to Springwood. The spectre of pay parking and traffic lights in the town centre were raised as possible outcomes from the revitalisation process.
By evening's end the focus had turned to the feasibility of newly formed group SOS (Save our Springwood) - the meeting's organiser - standing candidates in the September council elections.
"We elect them (councillors) to represent us. If that's not being done we have a good opportunity to do something about that. I'm confident that certainly from within the ranks of this room we could put up three alternative candidates to develop three votes on the council to oppose this," resident Brendon Luchetti said to loud applause.