By Dominique Tassell
Concerns over Leslie Dam facilities were raised in the general business portion of last week’s Southern Down Regional Council meeting.
Cr Andrew Gale raised the topic of toilet facilities at Leslie Dam, stating he’d had a meeting with Sunwater over shoreline access issues and brought up Saddledam Road toilet access.
He stated that there is increased congestion at the dam, and plans to open some shoreline up.
Cr Gale stated he has asked Sunwater to close facilities near the dam wall and commission facilities at Saddledam Road, as a shift in user behaviour and recreational patterns means more people frequent that area now.
He stated Sunwater is not on board with this, and he asked council staff to look at possibilities of council opening facilities in this area.
He also requested they investigate any potential state government funding for Sunwater so they would be able to do this.
Mayor Vic Pennisi asked for this topic to go to an information session, stating council “need a bit of time”.
Cr Jo McNally raised that Cr Gale should have declared a conflict of interest as a frequent user of the dam.
Cr Gale said he’s a short-term user of the dam and the toilets don’t affect him as he doesn’t use them.
Mayor Pennisi agreed with Cr McNally, stating Cr Gale should have raised the conflict of interest and reminded councillors that if they plan on discussing something in general business they still have to declare it at the start of the meeting.
Cr Sheryl Windle spoke up to state there is definitely an issue out at the dam regarding toilet facilities and said the Fish Stocking Association should be involved in any discussions.
While locals acknowledge this is an issue, some have made it clear that they believe there are more pressing issues council should be dealing with first.
In the same meeting, Cr Ross Bartley raised the issue of stormwater in the region during general business, stating that Warwick in particular is suffering significantly.
He also stated that Killarney locals have requested better drains, and flagged a potential stormwater levy.
