By Nina Shatifan

Development can now go ahead on the controversial 14 lot Annetts Parade subdivision that will clear over 70% of high-value native vegetation on environmentally protected land.

The motion to overturn last week’s approval was narrowly defeated 5-4 following an intensive debate, with the Mayor casting the deciding vote before a packed public gallery.

Those in favour of the development included Councillors Phil Constable, Amber Schultz, Laurence Babington and Mayor Mathew Hatcher. Those seeking to rescind approval included Councillors Anthony Mayne, Mick Johnson, Sharon Winslade, and Colleen Turner. Councillor Rob Pollock was not present and Councillor Babington did not speak throughout the debate.

The motion’s supporters made it clear they did not want to stop development but wanted to work with the developers to get an outcome in line with C4 environmental protections and Council’s own policies.

They argued the DA should have included an updated traffic plan in light of a major development approved for Oaks Ranch nearby and an independent updated comprehensive environmental assessment that considered serious and irreversible impacts. The Director of Planning and Environment, Gary Bruce, said these were not part of Council requirements for the development application.

Under questioning from Councillor Sharon Winslade, Council General Manager Mark Ferguson rejected the need for further assessments. “I think the staff—the urban planners have assessed it, so have the environmental planners, so have our traffic engineers, so has the Director—and on that basis, they have formulated a position,” Mr. Ferguson told the meeting.

UPDATE 2.7.26

On Wednesday council received a rescission signed by three Councillors for the development. 

Rescission Motion signed by Councillor Anthony Mayne, Councillor Mick Johnson and Councillor Sharon Winslade, received 1 July 2026 read. 

MOTION

We the undersigned give notice that we intend to move a motion to rescind the following resolution (Minute Number 26/76) regarding PER26/019 DA0134/26 – 14 Lot Torrens Title Subdivision, public road and earthworks – Annetts Parade, Mossy Point, Lot 16 DP 1248291, as resolved at the Council Meeting on 30 June 2026.

Today Council announced that an extraordinary meeting of Eurobodalla Council will be held on Tuesday 7 July 2026.

The meeting will consider a notice of motion brought by Clr Anthony Mayne, Clr Sharon Winslade and Clr Mick Johnson to rescind Council’s decision to approve Development Application DA0134/26 for a 14 lot subdivision on Lot 16 DP 1248291 Annetts Parade, Mossy Point.

Tuesday’s extraordinary meeting starts at 2pm and will be held in the Council Chamber. The meeting will also be streamed live via our webcast service.

A public forum session allowing residents to address the agenda item will be held at the beginning of the Council Meeting. Speakers must register before 12pm Monday 6 July at council.meetings@esc.nsw.gov.au or by calling 4474 1022.

By Nina Shatifan  1.6.26

Eurobodalla Shire Mayor Mathew Hatcher used his casting vote to override a deadlocked chamber on Tuesday, approving a highly contentious 14-lot subdivision in a mapped wildlife corridor at Mossy Point.

The dramatic 5-4 split decision sparked fury among local residents and environmentalists. Opponents argue the approval effectively bypasses the Eurobodalla Council’s own 2021 C4 Environmental Living guidelines. This legally prioritises natural environment protections in areas of high ecological value.

The approved Development Application (DA) allows for the clearing of 70% of the native vegetation on a critical 2.06-hectare site. Public forum speakers and local ecologists argued before the vote that the extensive clearing directly violates local environmental protections for irreplaceable wildlife corridors, specifically threatening vulnerable local species such as the Yellow-bellied Glider.

The floor of the council chamber saw intense debate from both sides. Councillor Sharon Winslade led the opposition, citing eight separate examples where she argued the approval cuts corners on both State and Council environmental protections. She emphasised that the 14-lot layout fragments the continuous native canopy and will require massive clearing to accommodate mandatory bushfire safety margins.

This is the first case of its kind since the International Court of Justice affirmed that governments have a legal duty to prevent climate harm

Jack Egan from Rosedale is among ten Australians who have filed a case with the United Nations Human Rights Committee arguing the Australian government is violating their human rights by failing to limit coal and gas exports — by far Australia’s largest contribution to climate change. The 10 claimants are represented by the Human Rights Law Centre, Environmental Justice Australia, and Earthjustice.

This is the first case filed in an international body against a country for climate harm since the International Court of Justice, the United Nations’ judicial arm, affirmed that all governments have a legal obligation to prevent significant harm to the climate. In May, Australia joined 140 other countries in passing a major United Nations resolution supporting this landmark legal ruling on climate change.

“All governments have a legal duty to act on the climate crisis, as affirmed by the International Court of Justice last year. The Australian government is failing that responsibility by allowing unchecked exports of coal and gas,” said Ramin Pejan, Deputy Managing Attorney of the International Program at Earthjustice. “This case sends a clear message: governments must act to reduce climate pollution from coal and gas and protect their people from harm.”

Each of the claimants has been seriously harmed by extreme weather events, from catastrophic bushfires and heatwaves to sea level rise and flooding. Their claim asks the UN Human Rights Committee to declare that it is unlawful for Australia to continue approving coal and gas projects for export without a plan to keep Australians safe from dangerous climate change.

“Climate change is affecting not only our country, but our ability to pass on knowledge, care for sacred places and keep our culture strong for future generations,” said Rikki Dank, a Gudanji and Wakaya Traditional Owner from the Barkly Tablelands in the Northern Territory.

“Australia continues to play a significant role in the climate crisis through the coal and gas it exports, while communities like mine are left to deal with the consequences. I believe there must be accountability for the harms already occurring and for those that will continue if meaningful action is not taken.”

“Australia is one of the largest exporters of coal and gas in the world,” said Hannah White, Senior Lawyer, Environmental Justice Australia. “Climate harm caused by Australia’s coal and gas doesn’t stop at a border, and neither does Australia’s responsibility for it.”

“Everyone deserves to live safely with their families and communities, free from fear of climate disasters,” said Jack McLean, Senior Lawyer, Human Rights Law Centre. “The Australian government must phase out coal and gas and protect people’s rights to life, home, and culture.”

Mr Egan said “I’m part of this case because I know firsthand what climate change can take from people. During the Black Summer bushfires, Cath and I lost our home, almost all our possessions and, for several terrifying hours, I believed I might lose my partner too.

What happened to us was not simply bad luck. It was part of a worsening climate crisis driven by decades of delay and inaction despite clear scientific warnings.

The rule of law matters deeply to me. I believe courts have an important role to play in protecting ordinary people from the harm caused by powerful fossil fuel corporations and governments that continue expanding coal and gas projects.

I joined this case because I want decision-makers to understand the real human consequences of climate inaction and their responsibility to prevent foreseeable harm. I also hope this case helps build momentum for stronger legal protections for current and future generations, building on the growing recognition under international law that governments have obligations to protect people from climate harm.“

To learn more about this case and the stories of the 10 Australian claimants, please visit hardtruthscase.org.au.

On Thursday Dr Michael Holland, MP for Bega opened the Dr McKay Community Centre Electrification Project.

Last year the Southcoast Health & Sustainability Alliance (SHASA) secured funding of $49,977 from the NSW Government’s Community Building Partnership 2025 Program to electrify the Eurobodalla Shire Council’s Dr McKay Community Centre. This is the first partnership between SHASA and the Eurobodalla Shire Council to upgrade a Council run facility.

The works undertaken in this project will assist the Council to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and make significant savings on their electricity bills.

This Project involved a very challenging installation by Micro Energy Systems of a 12.32 kilowatt photovoltaic solar system on an extremely steep rooftop and a 46 kilowatt hour battery.

It’s estimated that the solar system will produce 20,000 kilowatt hours of electricity a year and financial savings of more than $4,000 a year. This is a significant saving on current bills of $5,334 per annum.

ESC Media

There were plenty of reasons to celebrate at the Bay Pavilions on Saturday night, but none bigger than Yumaro’s double win as Business of the Year and Outstanding Community Organisation at the 2026 Eurobodalla Business Awards.

Eurobodalla Mayor Mathew Hatcher said the recognition was a fitting tribute to an organisation that has spent decades creating opportunities for people living with disability, helping them feel connected, valued and included across the region.

“Yumaro’s one of those organisations that everyone knows – you see their team out and about in the community every day,” Mayor Hatcher said.

“They’ve changed a lot of lives through the opportunities they’ve created, and that’s only possible because of the people who show up every day genuinely caring about what they do and who they do it for.”

Yumaro wasn’t the only winner with a story to tell. The crowd cheered on businesses both big and small, emerging ventures and inspiring individuals who’ve made their mark in the local economy.

UPDATED Saturday

The National Parks Association of NSW (NPA) along with other conservation groups are calling for the creation of the Great Southern Forest, a visionary new national park proposal to protect nearly 1.2 million hectares of forests, wildlife habitat, vital water catchments, and cultural landscapes across southern New South Wales.  

At a launch on Friday at the Eurobodalla Regional Botanic Gardens guests were welcomed to country by Aunty Loretta Parsley.

Forest campaigners with decades of advocacy and traditional owners were in attendance to hear the from the NPA leaders, Sue Higginson MP, Liza Butler MP, Harriet Swift from South East Forest Rescue, filmmaker David Gallan and local campaigner from Eurobodalla NPA Joslyn van der Moolen.

Strong community and government actions to create the globally iconic Great Koala National Park inspired three local South Coast-based NPA branches to join forces to protect their own patches through the Great Southern Forest proposal.  

A humpback whale entangled off the NSW South Coast has been successfully freed following a response led by NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) with support from Marine Rescue NSW and ORRCA.

The whale was first reported to ORRCA’s 24/7 Rescue Hotline near Batemans Bay, trailing lines used for fishing and buoys attached. 

A specialist response was mobilised, with teams tracking the whale and working together on Saturday to safely remove the entanglement on the weekend. 

The NPWS Large Whale Disentanglement Team (LWDT) successfully removed 46 metres of trailing line, two buoys and seaweed weighing a total of 13 kilograms from the whale, allowing it to resume more natural movement. Following the disentanglement, the whale was observed moving faster and responding positively.

A drone pilot operating as part of the NSW Right Whale ID Program obtained aerial imagery of the whale, providing valuable information on the type and configuration of the entanglement to assist the response (see Dropbox for vision captured).

Disentangling marine wildlife is a complex and dangerous operation that requires highly trained operators, specialist equipment and suitable conditions to safely approach and assist animals at sea.

Large Whale Disentanglement training is supported by the NSW Marine Estate Management Strategy (MEMS).

12 June 2026 – In a welcome move for the local government sector, the NSW Government has announced that from 1 July 2027, it will take over ownership and responsibility of the Rural Fire Service’s mobile assets – commonly referred to as the “Red Fleet”.

Mayor Darcy Byrne, President of Local Government NSW said the move would come as a great relief to local councils across NSW.

“For the last 30 years, legislation has said that these assets are owned by councils. Yet councils had no say in the acquisition, usage and disposal of these assets; these were all decisions of the Rural Fire Service” said Mayor Byrne.

Despite this, councils have been required to record these assets in their financial statements and absorb the depreciation expense for these assets, as well as the costs of inspecting and recording these assets in their accounts. Today’s announcement means that once the transfer takes place next year, councils will no longer carry this impost.

“Today’s reform will be particularly felt in smaller rural and regional areas where the vesting of Red Fleet assets has had a huge impact as these communities often have a proportionally larger RFS presence. These councils were carrying a heavy financial burden by being forced to record them on their books.”

“This is a major win for local government and comes after years of persistent advocacy by LGNSW and from our individual councils”.

Most recently, LGNSW made strong representations to an inquiry conducted by the NSW Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee whose final report recommended that legal ownership of the fleet should be transferred to the RFS as a state agency.

“We thank the members of that Committee for recognising this urgent need and we are pleased that the State Government has acted so decisively on this key recommendation to transfer ownership.”

“Councils strongly support the work of the RFS and recognise that it is a world leading firefighting service. We look forward to working with the State Government over the next 12 months to ensure a successful transition, including appropriate consideration of maintenance contracts.”

The Rally for Recovery at Tomakin has made a further $150,000 to Sydney Children Hospital Foundation.

Alex Hyvonen, from the Foundation, (left of photo) gratefull accepted the cheque recently.

Mike from the Rally says “This year has been very successful, thanks to the generosity of donors and a consistent level of support from locals and visiting buyers. We now have a good range of all household items at garage sale prices, and also those of a better quality.”

The South Coast Health and Sustainability Alliance’s EV EXPO will be held this Saturday in Riverside Park featuring a wide range of vehicles.

Come along and have a chat to local owners of a diverse range of electric vehicles about what it is like to own one in the Eurobodalla.

Local auto dealer AMH will also be there with new vehicles.

With the recent oil crisis and spike in fuel prices, there has been a surge in interest in going electric.

Rob Motbey from Coastal Auto Group Moruya says BYD was the second largest selling manufacturer in Australia last month. Locally, 90% of sales over the last two months have been EVs.

The new technology is moving fast and Rob says BYD are bringing 4 minute chargers to Australia.

Interestingly the new tech isn’t just for the young ones. Rob says the average age of purchasers locally is 71 years.

Kathryn Maxwell from SHASA says “There is something for everyone, and prices start under $25,000. You might even be able to trade your combustion engine car for an electric one with very little to pay, and say goodbye to expensive fuel and maintenance, and enjoy a quiet, more relaxing ride.”