Cr Malcolm Murray, moving that council not proceed with the bid, commended economic development officer Carl Pemberton for his work on the proposal in a short time.

"The idea of (the public meeting) was to gauge public opinion," he said. "It showed (a) that it's a very divisive issues and (b) that there's a heck of a lot of people against it and probably the majority of people against it."

Cr Phil Yeo said Wingecarribee Shire was invited to make a submission on the jail only six weeks before the closing date, compared to the six months notice given to Shoalhaven.

It was obvious from this that the State Government had not seriously considered Wingecarribee Shire as a possible site for the jail and that the correctional centre would only be located in Labor MP Matt Brown's electorate.

"It would have been interesting if there had been a debate about (a jail) elsewhere in the shire."

Cr Duncan Gair said he was disappointed that Wingecarribee Shire would be unable to take advantage of the opportunity offered by the jail, but in view of the unfavourable response from the community, to continue would put council in a very tense position.

Council had had an economic responsibility to seek further information about the jail and to debate the issue, he said.

Cr Nick Campbell-Jones said the social disadvantages of a jail would outweigh any economic benefit for the Southern Highlands.

"I don't believe that comparisons to Kempsey, Junee and Lithgow are relevant," he said.

"All three towns were on their knees before the jail got to them."

Cr Sara Murray said that the short time available for council to consult the community before voting on a bid had left residents feeling alienated and afraid.

"As councillors we have to think through that and endeavour to do better in the future," she said.

Cr Paul Tuddenham said the debate had emphasised the difficulty council has in communicating with the community, as well as the changing demographics of the Southern Highlands.

Full story: SHN, Friday, February 24, 2006.