Due to strong opposition to smart city plans at a previous meeting, Cessnock Council hired two security guards to ensure the safety of attendees and councillors. The move comes after Mayor Suvall revealed that some councillors felt threatened, and attendees might attempt to disrupt proceedings on the ABC 7:30 Report, prompting the decision to hire additional security personnel. In addition to the opposition to the 15 minute city plans, there were also concerns over a motion to censure Councillor Ian Olsen for the 5th time in a closed session, which could cost ratepayers up to $35,000.
Councillor Ian Olsen seemed a bit surprised by the presence of security at the door and didn’t know the reason for the security measures. Some speculate that heightened tensions and interest in the meeting may have prompted the decision. One councillor was overheard expressing gratitude for the additional security measures, stating, “I feel much safer having you here.” However, some question the necessity of such measures and the potential financial burden on the community.
We reached out to the council and asked three very specific questions: Did the council hire security? How much did this cost ratepayers? And was there a specific threat behind the decision?
We did get a timely response from the council. However, they did not disclose how much the security cost.
A spokesperson for Cessnock City Council told MHV NEWS that, in light of the large number of attendees at recent council meetings, additional resourcing was engaged to manage their WHS obligations, including capacity limits in the Council Chambers.
The opposition to the 15 minute city plans is expected to continue, and further meetings on the topic are likely to attract significant public interest. The concerns over the censure of Councillor Ian Olsen are also likely to draw attention from the community, given the potential financial cost and secretive way these matters are handled by the council