Blue Mountains Gazette 6 January 2010 By Kat Mullard
At a time when most people were enjoying a much deserved break, councillors from the Blue Mountains were back in chambers embroiled in a heated debate over the contentious Springwood town centre project.
Forced to ditch their holiday plans, councillors convened for an extraordinary meeting held on December 30 to vote on a rescission motion lodged by Clrs Janet Mays, Eleanor Gibbs and Brendan Luchetti after the previous meting.
The motion, which was consequently rejected, was lodged against a resolution made at the last council meeting relating to the community consultation process for the Springwood town centre project.
Ward 1 Councillor Eleanor Gibbs said the motion was initiated after expressions of shock and upset from the community over the outcome of the December 15 meeting.
"The community has felt they have been kept in the dark. The rescission motion was intended as a statement," Clr Gibbs said.
Denying claims from councillor members that the rescission motion was a delaying tactic, Clr Gibbs said she was concerned about including detailed proposals from Coles, Woolworths and Jamieson Property Group in a future poll on the issue.
"We had hoped that the meeting in February 2009 (where a mayoral minute was passed about the public consultation on the project) was the start of a new process in development in Springwood and the Blue Mountains.
"The vote (on December 15) that we would take specific proposals to the community is not what we originally agreed on.
As a result of the rescission motion, all procedures on the Springwood project were brought to a halt over the Christmas period.
Ward 3 Councillor Alison McLaren, who voted against the rescission, said she was in favour of holding a poll as soon as possible.
"The consequence of the rescission motion was the delay of the public exhibition of the Community Needs study and further work on community consultation," Clr McLaren said.
"We have received an email from the general manager which stated that (due to the rescission motion) we couldn't go out to tender for the requirements for the community cultural facilities for Springwood, delaying the process for four weeks.
"The rescission motion was a tactic to delay progress, and nothing more. All of the issues raised by the councillors who brought on this motion will be debated this year."
"It is important that we reach the ultimate form of community consultation, a poll, as soon as possible."
Ward 3 Councillor Daniel Myles agreed to a quick poll.
"There's been too many delaying tactics. It's time to put a specific proposal to the real power in this city, the public, and do it on a one-vote one-value basis."
Blue Mountains Mayor, Adam Searle, said it had not been decided when a poll would happen and what would be in the poll.
"That is to be debated at a council meeting in February," Clr Searle said.
"It's like putting the cart before the horse, and like saying to the community 'We know what you need'."