Open forum goes begging as Shire of Augusta-Margaret River council starts question sessions for transparency

Residents are being urged to take advantage of a new forum that allows ratepayers to quiz councillors once per month. It comes after no members of the public attended the inaugural Shire of Augusta-Margaret River question-and-answer session held last Wednesday night, April 17. The lone ratepayer attending was incoming councillor Melissa D’Ath. Shire president Julia Meldrum was unfazed by the poor turn-out and said the monthly sessions were in the interests of transparency. “Members of the public have historically had an opportunity to ask questions of council at the start of each council meeting and it’s not uncommon that on some occasions no residents attend or ask questions,” she told the Times. “The newly-introduced Q&A sessions reflect our commitment to transparency and allow councillors to ask questions about upcoming agenda items in a public forum which the community can also participate in. “The sessions are just one of the ways we engage with the community to inform our decision making.” The council calendar was bolstered by information sessions for briefings during the first and second Wednesday of each month. The Shire has confirmed despite the reduction in meetings, councillor fees and allowances would not be affected. Residents attending meetings were asked to submit questions ahead of time to help with processing. “We are confident that these additional frameworks will significantly enhance dialogue between the council and the community, fostering transparency and collaboration in our decision-making processes,” a Shire spokesperson said. Meanwhile, despite the switch to monthly meetings, a special meeting will be held on Monday, May 6, for changes to committees based on the appointment of the new councillor. Ms D’Ath replaces deputy Shire president Paula Cristoffanini who tendered her resignation last week. The Times understands Cr Kylie Kennaugh will replace Cr Cristoffanini on the panel involved in recruiting the Shire’s new chief executive following the resignation of Stephanie Addison-Brown in December.