Councillors call for restraint amid ‘angst’ in public debate on Shire of Augusta-Margaret River policies

Councillors have decried “angst” in the community generated during the debate over its new food trucks policy and urged civil discussion on key public issues. Despite their own disagreements about the new policy which initially singled out protection for Gracies General Store, elected members at last Wednesday night’s meeting said bitter debate which split the Gracetown community should not spread to public anger and personal attacks. Council veteran Ian Earl led the remarks that followed Times reports about the fallout of the debate in Gracetown which included alleged misbehaviour on social media as well as other platforms favoured by Gracetown residents. The central issue was a contentious independent survey conducted by the Gracetown-Cowaramup Bay Community group used to argue for greater access to food vendors and coffee vans in the coastal hamlet. Supporters of the general store led by its landlord and long-term resident Ian Englert fought back. Cr Earl said regardless of residents’ feelings, hostile emails and phone calls to councillors, Shire of Augusta-Margaret River officers and fellow community members were not justified. He asked residents to “show respect” in future consultation. Deputy shire president Tracey Muir said councillors had carefully considered the complexities of the food truck decision over many months. “This has been a very difficult decision-making process,” she said on Wednesday. Cr Kylie Kennaugh also backed the call for sensible debate. “This has caused a lot of angst in the community,” she said. “It has caused a split (in Gracetown).” Members previously deferred the item to ensure thorough consultation as well as examining any legal ramifications of the new policy. Shire president Julia Meldrum reassured residents elected members took potential conflict between vendors and established businesses seriously and had delegated the power to officers through the permit process to consider specific circumstances. Similar concerns about personal attacks were raised by Cr Earl at the Augusta council meeting in June when discussing the Augusta childcare proposal.