The Leslight motion supported adoption of the Shoalhaven City Council’s sea level rise policy and made reference to Batemans Bay area residents considering legal action against council.

Mayor Lindsay Brown however said Clr Leslight attempted to the table the motion at the very end of the meeting during “urgent business” and this was not appropriate as it needed discussion by councillors.

He also said the reference to legal action required the involvement of council’s solicitors.

 According to Councillor Leslight, closed workshops conducted by the authors of the “Framework” and incorporated in the Whitehead report, recognised the economic damage adoption of the report would have on the shire.

The workshops also recognised the adverse effect the adoption of the framework would have on coastal property values.

“Councillors who voted in favour of adopting the report are assumed to have read and digested the report in its entirety, and as such may be subject to legal action for failing to consider and address the adverse economic and social implications of their decision,” Clr Leslight said.

“Residents from Surfside, Long Beach and Maloneys Beach who are discussing a class action with a group of Sydney based international lawyers, have also noted that the decision was taken in the full knowledge that there was no funding available for a sea level rise management plan, or any likelihood of such funding becoming available from State or Federal Government sources.

‘’It concerns me that seven out of nine councillors supported PSR14/062 without seeking advice on the legal implications of their decision, but it concerns me even more that these councillors apparently made the decision in full knowledge of the social and economic risks that were clearly outlined in the report.”

In fact, when I tried to raise concerns about the financial impact the policy has already had on shire wide property prices, the information was simply dismissed”.

“It is also noted that ministers Stokes and Constance personally advised the Mayor and General Manager to strongly consider the Shoalhaven policy, in a meeting that lasted 70 minutes. This was followed by the Chief Executive of OEH, Mr Terry Bailey, expressing the same sentiment to them for a further 35 minutes, all to no avail.”

Cr. Leslight points out that it was the Eurobodalla Shire Council who instigated the “regional” sea level rise framework in association with the Shoalhaven.

“Why is it still being described as a regional framework when it was clearly rejected by the major partner in this joint venture?”

Mayor Lindsay Brown has responded strongly to Clr Milton Leslight’s recent statements in the media following his failed attempt to table a motion to repeal Eurobodalla Shire Council’s sea level rise policy.

‘Clr Leslight’s claims about this policy are simply not true,’ the Mayor said. ‘It disappoints me to see an elected representative continue to spread misinformation and create needless unrest in the community, despite being provided with the facts time and time again.’

Clr Leslight has alleged that the consultant employed by Council to develop the South Coast Regional Sea Level Rise Planning and Policy Response Framework took part in a closed workshop with council staff where they ‘recognised the economic damage adoption of the report would have on the shire’.

Clr Brown dismissed this, saying there was no recognition during this workshop that the report would adversely impact the economy or coastal property values. ‘This is a complete fabrication by Clr Leslight. The workshop and report simply acknowledged the opinions of some community members, including that of Clr Leslight’, said Clr Brown.

In Clr Leslight’s failed motion at Tuesday’s council meeting, he asked that Eurobodalla adopt Shoalhaven City Council’s sea level rise policy. Mayor Brown says this is despite Shoalhaven Council adopting the same sea level rise projections as Eurobodalla, other than the projection out to the year 2100.

‘I am surprised and quite bewildered by Clr Leslight’s actions given that at the Council meeting on 25 November 2014, Clr Leslight put forward a motion that Eurobodalla should adopt a sea level rise projection higher than that recommended by the consultant and staff. Clr Leslight had been briefed about the staff recommendation so he was quite aware of this’, said Cr Brown. 

‘I’m also surprised that Clr Leslight, who continues to state that the policy has had a negative financial impact on property prices, doesn’t appear to be aware that independent property valuation reports available on websites such as www.allhomes.com.au  and realestate.com show that property values in areas such as Maloneys Beach, Long Beach and North Batemans Bay, which are impacted by future sea level rise projections, have in fact either risen or stayed the same since Eurobodalla adopted the new planning framework’.

‘I hope that the residents from Surfside, Long Beach and Maloneys Beach, who according to Clr Leslight are ‘discussing a class action with a group of Sydney based international lawyers’, have a look at this too’, said Cr  Brown. 

Cr Leslight’s allegation that Minister for Planning Rob Stokes and NSW Government staff personally advised the Mayor and General Manager to strongly consider the Shoalhaven policy has also been refuted by the Mayor.

‘Rubbish!’ said Cr Brown. ‘We had a very positive meeting with the Minister and NSW Government staff who encouraged us to continue to be flexible in our approach due to the sensitivities in our community. Council considered such sensitivities when adopting sea level rise projections that were in fact less than those recommended by Clr Leslight in his motion to Council on 25 November 2014, less than the consultant and staff recommendations, and less than those adopted by the former NSW Government policy that are still used by the majority of councils, including Bega’. 

‘We also discussed Shoalhaven’s original decision not to adopt a projection out to the year 2100. NSW Government staff supported Eurobodalla’s position to adopt a year 2100 projection, and Shoalhaven have since complied with the requirements of the NSW Government and adopted a sea level rise projection for 2100.’

Clr Brown said it’s time for Clr Leslight to get behind the community and promote Eurobodalla for the benefit of all ratepayers and property owners.

‘There is nothing to be gained from his unfounded negative comments about business, development and property values in Eurobodalla. Negativity from a councillor and member of the local real estate sector will have a more adverse effect on property prices than this sea level rise policy. The 2100 projections in the policy are only for major infrastructure, new rezoning and related subdivisions and not for assessment of dwelling houses, alterations and additions and commercial or industrial development.’

‘I say again - there is no evidence that this policy has or will have any adverse effect on local property values and to say anything different is fear-mongering.

‘Council has written to all ratepayers with property that may be affected by sea level rise projections and I encourage anyone who has questions to contact me or speak directly to council staff so that you have the right information,’ Clr Brown said.