Preparation for the now abandoned community poll on water fluoridation has cost the council about $18,778, a report shows.
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A breakdown of council staff time in preparing for the poll is contained in a report to the Port Macquarie-Hastings Council meeting on Wednesday, October 13.
"This amounts to approximately $18,778, including oncosts," the report said.
The report outlines the community poll process to date and associated financial information.
A rescission motion put a stop to the community poll on water fluoridation in conjunction with the December council election.
The council decided, in a four to two vote, that discussion with the state government was the way forward instead and has since lodged questions as part of the dialogue.
Preparations for the community poll had taken a significant amount of staff resources, the report said.
Duties ranged from researching and compiling information suitable to include on an information sheet as well as liaising with external stakeholders to assist in the preparation of the information sheet.
Meetings were held with NSW Health, the Australian Dental Association and Fluoride Free Australia to obtain supporting arguments for the yes and no options on the information sheet.
Read more:
- Council lodges questions as part of water fluoridation dialogue
- Council agrees to can community poll on fluoride
- Community poll on water fluoridation to proceed at December council elections
- Doctors united in objection to "flawed" fluoride community poll
- Mayor wants fluoride facts from Minister
- MP Leslie Williams says fluoride is a matter for Port Macquarie-Hastings Council and state government to debate
- Deputy mayor Lisa Intemann proposes replacing fluoride poll with MP's offer of robust state debate
"Much of this information provided had to be reviewed and confirmed as well as discussed among staff for relevance and accuracy," the report said.
"Staff time was also used to prepare reports to be considered by the council.
"A significant amount of time liaising with the NSW Electoral Commission was also required due to the changing dates and wording of the poll together with arrangements for conducting the poll."
Meanwhile, the council will also consider the Wauchope and Surrounds Community Plan.
The council is working with communities across the local government area to develop community plans.
The council report said community plans identified each community's vision, priorities and actions to achieve positive change, while recognising the unique qualities of each community and the challenges posed by significant forecast growth.
The Wauchope and Surrounds Community Plan is complete after extensive consultation with the community and the Community-Council Action Team representing the areas of Wauchope, King Creek, Crosslands, Yippin Creek, Huntingdon, Bago and Rosewood.
Feedback received during the draft plan's public exhibition, along with updates made by the action team, have been incorporated into the plan, which is presented for council endorsement.
The draft Dogs in Public Open Spaces Policy will also come before the council meeting.
A three-part recommendation proposes to defer any changes to the policy until completion of the local government area-wide Coast and Estuary Recreational User Needs Analysis.
The recommendation also recognises further discussions have been held with Crown Lands and National Parks and Wildlife Service about dogs on Washhouse Beach in the Camden Haven.
Other matters on the council meeting agenda include a new destination brand, Rawdon Island Bridge update, the results of an outdoor dining parklet trial and 2021-2022 community grants.
The meeting will be livestreamed on the council's YouTube channel from 5.30pm on Wednesday.
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