IN the final Port Stephens Council meeting of the year, extensive reports and a refusal to extend the meeting by more than fifteen minutes left eighteen notices of motion unanswered until the next term of Council.

With the meeting already running overtime, Councillor Chris Doohan moved a motion to extend the meeting by an additional fifteen minutes to consider ten items of Council agenda.

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Councillor Giacomo Arnott raised an amendment to this motion for an additional 45 minutes.

“There is still quite a bit left on the agenda that I think is quite important.

“I think it’s important that we get through the notices of motion so that they’re not simply wiped out at the end of this term of Council,” Cr Arnott said.

Councillor Arnott put forth nineteen notices of motion from the community to be addressed at the meeting.

“I put forward an amendment to provide for an extra 45 minutes on the understanding that it’s unlikely to go that long, but I think it’s important we get through the notices of motion.

“If we don’t get through the notices of Motion, it’ll be a real shame for the community,” he said.

The motion lapsed without a seconder and the Council voted to pass an additional fifteen minutes.

The only notice of motion that was addressed at the meeting was the first motion, put forth by Councillor Ken Jordan regarding Port Stephens Koalas.

Cr Arnott expressed his frustration at the situation.

“If any Councillors move from here to go to dinner and wine instead of dealing with the Council business, then it is going to be one of the most distressing and frustrating things that’s happened in the life of this Council.

“Council is here to discuss items and do their jobs – it’s a disgrace,” Cr Arnott concluded.

Notices of motion regarding illegal dumping, roads, pathways, libraries and animals in the area were amongst eighteen motions which will now be transferred to the next term of Council.

By Tara CAMPBELL