Peter Cormick - 1 February 2022

Peter Cormick presented to Council at the Public Access Session on 1 February 2022.

PUBLIC ACCESS PRESENTATION – PETER CORMICK. 1 FEBRUARY 2022

To the new councillors in particular, congratulations on being elected and thank you for stepping forward.

As conscientious councillors you are unavoidably studying and digesting a large volume of material, the likes of which you have never seen before; and you do this to enable yourselves to move forward in reforming the way our council does things and to work towards making the Eurobodalla an even better place than it is.

There are those who, often for good reason, complain about council but, for whatever reasons, do not or are simply unable to move beyond making complaints. But you, our new representatives, have moved beyond that and have committed to what I regard as a very significant personal sacrifice of your time and energies. And while you will cop the barbs of the entrenched naysayers, please keep in mind that there are many in the community who will support you by whatever means are available, including by way of positive comments.

Those of us who, for many years, have looked forward to this quiet revolution, have no illusions about what can be realistically achieved within the time frame available to you – being just two and half years. But I am optimistic that the changes you will make will for the most part be significant and for the benefit of the wider community.

As we are all agreed, the reform needs to commence with a reform of administrative processes, in line with guidelines issued by the NSW Ombudsman.

There is a long list of important matters that will require your close attention, but I think it’s best that they are presented to you by those whom you represent, after you have had time to settle in.

In the meantime, in addition to the reading material provided by staff and the Office of Local Government, you would do well to make a habit of reading the online news source, The Beagle. As you almost certainly know, but in case you don’t, it provides a unique source of news from across our shire and a forum in which community members can contribute. Unfortunately, as in any democracy, we are subject to occasional opinion that can only be described as nonsense, at best. But that is the (small) price of free and open discussion.

I wish all of you the very best in your endeavours as councillors.