The Cooma Council Comedy Club: A Festive Fiasco - By Chris Chan
'Tis the season to be jolly, and last week's council meeting certainly delivered as the comedic highlight of the year. Cue the Benny Hill music — we had double standards, debates, drama, and even a suggestion to “stick a koala on it!”
In a surprising twist, the Gang’s grip on power appeared to loosen slightly. About half of the motions raised by the Independents passed, thanks to a couple of incumbents breaking ranks. Although party-line voting still dominated, it’s a breath of fresh air to see alternative ideas gaining traction.
So, let’s get on with the show.
The Snowy Monaro Cold County Koala Project
The meeting began with an introduction to the Snowy Monaro Cold County Koala Project — a State Government pet project flush with funding: a staggering $119 million, with over $100 million earmarked for koala habitat conservation.
After councillors exhausted all ideas for keeping the mobile library funded, Cr Rose chimed in with the line of the day: “Let’s stick a koala on it!” Sometimes satire writes itself.
Bob Stewart at His Best
Cr Bob Stewart stole the show, holding the incumbents to account with a masterclass in consistency and restraint. The Gang’s leader, Mayor Hanna, was once again caught in a double standard — allowing his allies to prattle on uninterrupted while constantly interjecting when Councillor Thaler spoke. When Hanna rudely cut off Cr Stewart, the veteran councillor calmly, yet firmly, called him out.
This wasn’t just about parliamentary antics. Cr Stewart’s steady hand and keen eye for fairness are critical to ensuring some semblance of governance remains. Were any other Independent to attempt such order, they’d likely be slapped with a Code of Conduct complaint.
For those unfamiliar with Cr Stewart, Bombala’s longest-serving mayor is indeed a blessing in these chaotic chambers.
Charles Kolano’s Call for Clarity
Local advocate Charles Kolano opened proceedings with sharp and insightful observations. His key point? Font and colour choices in council communications are a nightmare — tiny, light-coloured text that excludes large swathes of the community. Sound familiar? That same lack of thought permeates the administration’s operations: the Cooma water tank debacle, Polo Flat Road mismanagement, and the council’s ongoing legal entanglements.
Kolano also raised concerns about Shannon’s Flat roads, questioning potential financial mismanagement. For context, Charles has a complicated history with the council. Back in 2019, councillors voted to acquire some of his land under controversial circumstances (look up the Werralong Road Case for more). It’s heartening to see locals like Charles still advocating for their community.
As for the font and colours? The council promised to “investigate improvements.” One wonders why this is even an issue after spending $1.4 million on software licensing. Great to see ratepayers’ dollars delivering nothing but frustration.
The Audit Office Drops the Financial Bomb
The NSW Audit Office presented their review of SMRC’s financials. The key takeaways:
Rates and annual charges rose 21.1%.
Grants and contributions fell 18.3%.
Councillor Rose flagged a $2.8 million rise in operating expenses, roughly 7% of rate revenue. He also pushed for better transparency, suggesting these presentations should be more accessible to the public.
Bob Stewart took it further: SMRC should benchmark itself against similarly sized councils to understand why costs are spiralling up. The CFO, Simon Rennie, blamed the divestment of the Aged Care facility for the blowout. A convenient scapegoat, but without greater transparency it’s hard to know the full story.
Double Standards and Disruption
Around the 1:44:00 mark, Councillor Lynda Summers addressed a progress report. When Cr Thaler attempted to respond, Mayor Hanna promptly shut him down — a clear case of double standards. Once again, Cr Bob Stewart came to the rescue, reminding the Mayor that he was out of order. This recurring theme of poor chairmanship continues to undermine any progress.
Fortunately, Cr Stewart’s experience is a steadying influence, guiding the less adept Mayor Hanna on how to run a meeting. One might suggest Hanna take notes.
Cr Thaler and the Tip Trouble
Councillor Thaler raised a legitimate issue about anti-social behaviour at the Cooma Tip, advocating for an investigation into the root causes. With years of experience running a scrapyard, Cr Thaler’s operational insights are invaluable. Yet his motion was dismissed, punctuated by Councillor John Rooney’s quip: “While I appreciate Thaler’s humour, this isn’t his finest work.” Funny? Perhaps. Helpful? Nope.
Saving the Mobile Library
The most contentious topic of the meeting was the Mobile Library. Cr Andrew Thaler, supported by Cr Bob Stewart, argued passionately for its preservation. Cr Stewart rightly pointed out the stark inequity: Cooma and Jindabyne enjoy physical libraries, while smaller regional towns rely solely on the mobile service.
Ironically, the Gang was happy to extend Cooma Library’s hours, to include Saturday morning, at a cost in excess of $40,000 per year, yet showed little concern for the rural communities losing their only library access.
By 2:22:24, Cr Bob Stewart’s patience wore thin: “Mr Mayor, you’re out of order.” His frustration peaked when Mayor Hanna’s constant interruptions and side conversations derailed the discussion. “If the Mayor and General Manager want to talk, I’ll finish up,” he growled at 2:31:50.
Cr Stewart’s point was clear: good chairmanship requires focus and fairness, both of which were in short supply.
The Final Act
Over five hours of motions, debates, and drama unfolded. While we can’t cover every detail here, rest assured: the themes of poor governance, partisan double standards, and fiscal mismanagement were alive and well.
Closing Thoughts
The council’s failings remain plain to see, but there’s hope. Independent voices like Cr Bob Stewart, Cr Andrew Thaler, Cr Reuben Rose and community advocates such as Charles Kolano are shining a light on the darkness. The cracks in the Gang’s control are growing, and with continued pressure, we might yet restore good governance to the Snowy Monaro.
Share this article with your neighbours. Together, we can keep the spotlight on accountability and demand better for our region.
Share this post