Can we now assume with an increasing amount of suspicion that the purpose behind the move to label a whole Council as dysfunctional for the actions of a few has more to it than we have been told?

Apart from the fact that your elected representatives were not afforded any natural justice and denied a meeting with the Minister.

Shelley Hancock, we now find that in the absence of any elected representation and what appears to be any debate or questioning, the newly appointed Administrator (Council) has taken it upon himself to appoint a Local Planning Panel (LPP).

These are panels in the metropolitan areas that are devoid of any input from those elected representatives who the community through a democratic process have invested their trust in to protect the fabric, character and integrity of their local area. Think Wilton, Campbelltown, Liverpool.

Although Wingecarribee are not mandated through legislation to have a LPP legislation, the Minister has chosen to provide an opportunity in the absence of duly elected councillors to take away your rights as residents of this shire. No longer will you have the right to expect advocacy if you object. This is a system that in my opinion is more designed for development expediency rather than efficiency.

The more I see this bizarre coup of Council playing out the more suspicious it becomes. Looking at certain Facebook pages and the pro-development fraternity that haunt those pages the more disturbing it really is.

Some comments from those on the Friends of Wingecarribee page who may have felt affronted by certain planning decisions of Council have actually called out for these types of planning panels to replace elected representatives.

Two of those, a real estate agent and a developer have openly declared a "promise, not a threat" on the FOW Facebook site that they are prepared to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to bring Council down.

Seems the Minister may have unwittingly saved those two a pretty penny?

I thank Charlotte Smith of Bowral for her letter to the editor (SHN, March 17). It illustrates some misconceptions about council that are circulating within the shire. As I am no longer a councillor, I speak here only for myself and will not enter into a debate on these matters. Happy to discuss - I am in the phone book.

By disruptive councillors I mean those who do not follow codes of conducts that apply to councillors, usually with the aim of delaying decisions or trying to stymie other councillors. These codes of conduct apply not only during public council meetings, but in many other situations.

I do not defend bullying or abusive behaviour and I point out that the general manager resigned due to long running poor behaviour from some councillors. The community seems remarkably silent.

Climate change is not a significant factor with the Station Street Upgrade project. My view on this project is simple. I want the main street of Bowral to become a pedestrian friendly zone, with no vehicular traffic, more large trees and be attractive to more commercial retail operations, visitors and residents. To achieve this council must provide an alternative to Bong Bong Street and the current Station Street Upgrade project is the first step to this longer term vision. In the interim, the upgrade seeks to improve traffic flow access to Bowral and the surrounding area. I look to the future and hope that the centre of Bowral will become a people-centric space.

Referring to development applications - heritage and tree removal, inappropriate developments and so on - significant DAs come to full council for determination. As a councillor I consider a range of factors, including that if a DA meets the LEP and DCP (development regulatory definitions) and if council rejects the application, the developer can take council to court and will almost certainly gain approval anyway. Costs to council are typically $50k-$100k and if there is a low likelihood of success, are better spent on services for the community. These decisions are not black and green (pun) and each councillor must make their own decision balancing a number of similar issues.

As a councillor I had an advantage over people such as Charlotte who means well, but has not had the council training, experience or briefings required to make DA determinations, understand code of meeting and conduct policies and taking into account the longer term view for projects such as the Station Street Upgrade.

Social media has made it is easy for people to share their superficial and sometimes mischievous views on anything far and wide. This is often not constructive. I don't know how this can be changed easily. But what's wrong with contacting the councillor?

Just heard that that the COVID vaccine for my GP practice has not been delivered at 5.30pm on Friday, March 19 when I am booked in for the injection on Monday, March 22 at 8am! How disgraceful and incompetent is that?! After all the announcements and promises that the vaccine rollout is on track we are now subjected to uncertainty and anxiety regarding the actual delivery of this life saving vaccine. The GPs are totally frustrated and overwhelmed with the need to reassure their patients that all will be well. I do not envy them the task!