The policy and politics impacting everyone.
Council
We just don't want to pay for it. Today's Spark Mayoralypics chases a stance on the hot-button issue of rates. Of all the council topics, rate rises probably stir up the most fear and anger. However, there are publicly available numbers that provide ratepaying voters with
Council
The Mayoralympics, Heat 2 For some people, the cost of living 'crisis' is about mortgage repayments and house prices. For others, it is about paying basic medicine and food bills. For politicians, it is an emotive battleground. Local councils don't cause problems with inflation, property booms
Council
It's Day 1 of the Shoalhaven Mayoralympics and up to the starting blocks step our two competitors, Kaye Gartner and Jemma Tribe. Both these women bring to this race significant community service resumes and each benefits from the experience of managing their own business. Both have also been
Council
by Cat Holloway / With wattle blooming throughout Shoalhaven, and Olympic green and gold fever tempting us to strip off the winter layers and take up swimming along our beautiful coastline, Paris 2024 has captured the nation's hearts and minds and the Paralympics haven't even begun. I&
Council
by Cat Holloway/ Like church and state, sport and money should be separate. But the game and its cost are inextricably entwined. Regardless of your political leanings or your religious beliefs, everyone (almost) loves sport. So in the lead-up to Shoalhaven council elections, no wonder there's a brouhaha
Council
by Cat Holloway / With mayoral destiny in mind, Shoalhaven's three top political candidates each straddle the personal and party line with a unique groove. Jemma Tribe's previous experience sitting in Shoalhaven Council was sometimes fraught with tension over pressure to vote with other councillors. "I
Council
Council votes down caps on conference and travel spending. by Cat Holloway / Shoalhaven City Council has the highest councillor expenses in NSW. But heated and convoluted council debate over the past six weeks has led to - wait for it - no change at all. Yes, that’s right. Even
Council
by Cat Holloway / Shoalhaven Council is $1 million down, but not out. Dealing with ongoing fallout from the collapse of cutting-edge waste recycling company, Bioelektra Australia, Shoalhaven City Council CEO, Robyn Stevens, has publicly released 22 documents detailing Council’s involvement with the liquidated firm, the ensuing internal investigation and
Community
Amid ongoing controversy over financial woes, Shoalhaven Council voted to preserve $180,000 in grant funding for local community groups. But two powerful deputations at last Monday's meeting made a strong case for not only preserving the efforts of local volunteers, but also attracting more support from government
Council
by Cat Holloway / It’s not often that local councillors unanimously agree, especially on development issues. But that is what happened at Shoalhaven City Council’s (SCC) March 11 meeting when every elected councillor voted to support council staff recommendations seeking to protect the rights of the community. So, who’
Council
by Cat Holloway / The unholy row over protecting Huskisson’s old Anglican Church site from development is over. But according to Huskisson Heritage Association (HHA) President, Shirley Fitzgerald, the Council’s vote to heritage list the Holy Trinity church, graveyard and surrounding land promises an exciting new beginning for the
Community
by Cat Holloway / It’s common: that sinking, guilty feeling of passing wild animals dead on the side of the road. Vastly worse is the experience if your car is one of the thousands on the South Coast every year that collide with a kangaroo, wallaby, wombat or possum. But