MAYORAL Community BBQs were held in the final weeks of April at Raymond Terrace, Medowie and Nelson Bay.

It is believed attendance for the three events was around 110 in total, however those who did attend were quick to share their issues not only with Councillors in attendance but Council’s senior management as well.

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General Manager Tim Crosdale, Facilities and Services Group Manager Greg Kable, and Development Services Group Manager Steven Peart were all in attendance at the Nelson Bay Mayoral BBQ, where they could be found listening to concerns and serving up sausage sandwiches.

The community engaged with the senior management team on a variety of issues including the Corlette Point Walking Track, of which a section was washed away in March 2021.

The need to move two sculptures now hidden in bushland to a more accessible location on the Tomaree Peninsula were discussed, alongside issues such as the new rates hardship policy not including disability pensioners.

Other topics of discussion focused around potholes, roads, council expenses and development applications.

When questioned on Lifestyle villages and if a change in state government may see improved planning laws, Steven Peart said that, “Council have done a lot of advocacy with state government around fixing the planning laws around lifestyle villages but it is not something that we are currently working on… it might be something that we can pick back up.

“It (lifestyle villages) is not just about affordability it is also about availability.

“Affordability is important but so is availability; but I am happy to take this back up,” he said.

Deputy Mayor Giacomo Arnott told News Of The Area, “The idea of the BBQs is to have the community come along, meet the Councillors, meet Council staff, talk about whatever issues they may have or suggestions or thoughts they may have.

“It gives Councillors and staff an opportunity to talk back to the community about what is going on.

“It is a lot less confronting than sending an email or going into a Council meeting, it is just a really casual way for people to talk about their issues.

“For how low in cost they (Mayoral BBQs) are, I think it is a really good outcome.

“It is a more positive way to engage with people who are coming and grabbing a sausage being a bit more casual and sharing a meal with us – it is a good outcome.”

Deputy Mayor Giacomo Arnott would like to see the Mayoral BBQs held on a regular basis to help the community engage better with the team at Council.

By Marian SAMPSON