‘Slap on the wrist’preferable to court case stress

Louisa Rust

Councillors Helen Stewart and Geoff Rose have told of the emotional and financial strain the council’s landmark Land and Environment Court case has caused them, following another adjournment of the case to late March.

Cr Geoff Rose said that, if he was guilty, the maximum penalty would have been preferable to the stress the case has caused.

“The maximum penalty for what we are accused of, as I understand it, is a month’s suspension and a slap on the wrist,” he said.

“Don’t you think if I had been guilty I would have taken that instead of paying the legal fees and having to leave my sick wife to travel to Sydney for court?”

The case ran for five days last year and was meant to conclude on Wednesday last week. Continuing to Thursday, it was then adjourned to March for final legal submissions.

Cr Helen Stewart said it was political pettiness at its very worst.

“By the time the decision is handed down, it will be nearly 12 months that myself and Cr Rose have been subject to these allegations,” she said.

“It has caused considerable emotional and physical stress.

“It is very sad that the council resorted to a costly court case instead of attempting to resolve the matter internally.

“At the end of the day, the winners will be the legal fraternity. The Shellharbour ratepayers will be the losers,” she said.

Crs Stewart and Rose said the support they had received from the public had been invaluable to them during the case.

Council general manager Brian Weir issued a statement after the adjournment of the court case, saying the council resolution forbidding councillors from talking to the media about the case was still in force.

“With the matter stood over until March for final legal submissions, we’ll be getting on with the job of providing services for the people of Shellharbour,” he said.