Cessnock Mayor Daneil Watton has faced another crushing defeat in the council chambers after his Mayoral Minute to halt the Wollombi Road upgrade was struck down in a fiery debate. The motion, which sparked controversy over its legality and potential financial fallout, was lost after Labor councillors and key swing vote Sarah Pascoe joined forces to block it.
The heated discussion pushed council’s 45-minute debate limit to the brink, leaving some councillors unable to speak or ask questions. Former Mayor Jay Suvaal slammed the proposal, calling it “unlawful” and warning of costly legal risks from tenders and developers tied to the Bellbird North Development, already ruled on by the Land and Environment Court. Suvaal also flagged the potential loss of grant funding under the Accelerated Infrastructure Fund, which could further blow out council costs.
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