A rally to defer the selection of the Wingecarribee Shire Council general manager attracted more than 100 people.
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The rally was held on Saturday February 13, 2021 at Leighton Gardens, Moss Vale.
Gundungurra Aunty Trish Levett opened the rally with a Welcome to Country. The speakers were Adam Jacobson from Friends of Wingecarribee, Independent candidate Rachel Russell, Nationals party member and council candidate Sam Zilinskas, and Colin Maslen who is running as number two on Rachel Russell's ticket.
Event organiser Rachel Russell said more than 150 Southern Highlanders turned up to the rally.
"They showed their grit and determination to have their voices heard on Saturday, showing up in cold and rainy weather to call for the appointment of the general manager of the shire to be deferred until after the September elections," she said.
"This issue is about good governance and risk management: what is in the best interests of our community. There is a significant risk that a council with a Performance Improvement Order in place is not in a position to attract the best possible candidate for general manager.
"Our community feels so strongly about this matter that ten community groups have written to the minister, and many more individuals and over 500 signatures were collected on a petition in just one week.
Ms Russel said the general manager role was one of the most influential jobs in the Southern Highlands.
"The selection should be deferred until after September 4 so that a new council can choose a general manager to work with," she said.
"As this position is the most powerful job in the shire, attracting an annual pay package of $350 thousand, and with a four-year contract, we need to be sure that we are able to employ the best person for the job.
"The mood in the community is for massive change, and we need to be able to provide hope that a new council of their choosing can be elected come September to deal with the significant issues facing this shire. We have widespread Post Traumatic Stress in our community from the bushfires, exacerbated by COVID 19.
"It is critical we are in the best possible position to tackle these challenges."
Speaker Adam Jacobson said he thought Rachel Russell did a great job in organising that rally at such short notice.
"Obviously the cold and wet weather probably dissuaded some people coming out, but quite a few have also expressed their support online. Similarly, to receive 535 signatures on the petition in a week was important to have Minister Shelley Hancock acknowledge the issue properly. It's been six months since 10 community organisations wrote to the Minister, Shelley Hancock, requesting that the appointment be deferred," he said.
It's easy for critics to cast these as small numbers compared to a community of 40,000, but these actions have been necessarily rapid and consequently had limited awareness among the community.
Mr Jacobson who is also the president of Friends of Wingecarribee said the FOW Facebook page had significant growth in the last two weeks.
"It's indicative of the community watching the progress of this issue," he said.
Sam Zilinskas was also a guest speaker at the rally.
Mr Zilinskas is a candidate for the Wingecarribee Shire Council election.
"I thought it was a good experience," he said.
"A problem I have noticed is that councillors in this current term can't seem to work together.
"Candidate Rachel [Russell] and I have different believes but have found a common ground. It's important to show bipartisanship.
"I don't believe the current council are in fit condition to make a decision to elect a new general manager. It would be a further hindrance to a new term of councillors."
Several residents also voiced their concern over the proposed selection of a new general manager ahead of the September 4, 2021 election.
Bundanoon resident Huw Kingston felt that the appointment of a new general manager should be delayed.
"Given the huge importance of this job in leading the administration into the future and the rather substantial salary that goes with it, surely the appointment should be delayed until a new council is in place, one that will work with the new general manager," he said.
"I think anyone would see that the performance of our councillors has been less than stellar for some years now.
Mr Kingston is not the only one who shares these sentiments, with residents commenting on a recent post on the Southern Highland News Facebook page. One person, Renee Broadbent, shared her views.
"Someone selected from the new council after elections, rather than someone selected by the current council," she wrote.
A Wingecarribee Shire Council spokesperson said residents concerned at the recruitment process were free to voice their concerns however they feel appropriate. The application for the position of general manager closed on February 15.
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