Shell Cove residents claim council rushed sports field driveway decision
Rangoon Avenue residents say Shellharbour council bypassed fair process by presenting the driveway plan before feedback ended.
Residents have been negotiating with Shellharbour City Council for months about plans to locate a sports field driveway on Rangoon Avenue. The driveway would increase traffic on their street.
The council sent letters seeking feedback on proposed changes. The proposed changes included a parking bay and restrictions on buses and trucks.
Residents discovered the matter went to council's Local Transport Forum meeting two weeks before the feedback window closed. Resident Joss Lynch said the group felt the process was unfair.
He said it was part of a pattern of pushing decisions through quickly. The council said it sought feedback from both residents and the transport forum.
Later, it reduced the no-stopping zone and added four extra parking spaces. The council also imposed a 7.5-tonne load limit and stopped buses from using the street.
- Rangoon Avenue
- Street affected
- Shellharbour City Council
- Council
- 7.5 tonnes
- Load limit imposed
- 4 extra spaces
- Parking spaces added
Why it mattersHow a council manages public consultation on local infrastructure affects residents' ability to influence decisions that shape their neighbourhood.
AustraliaA local dispute in the Illawarra over how councils should balance development and community input.
