The newly-elected council of the Port Macquarie-Hastings LGA has revoked its climate change emergency declaration amid protest from climate activists.
After a lengthy debate on Wednesday night, councillors voted 7-2 in favour of a motion to rescind the declaration, which had been made by the council in March last year.
Councillor Sharon Griffiths moved the motion, saying she did not believe it was the role of local government to be leading climate change action.
"We have got so much outstanding work to be completed from flood damage, from road works — there's so many things that need to be done in council," Cr Griffiths said.
"It's just misuse of council resources.
Mayoral support
The re-elected mayor of the Port Macquarie-Hastings Council Peta Pinson supported the motion.
"Of the majority of councils in Australia that have made these declarations, there are very few that have actually allocated a budget towards the outcomes of declaring that emergency," Cr Pinson said.
"Yes, we note that we've had these natural disasters but the world has had natural disasters.
"They've had it over the history of man and these things unfortunately do happen.
"Is our climate different from what we remember as children? Absolutely it is.
"What's causing that? Scientists have varied views on that, but a legal expert from the Australian National University actually says that there is no legislative power to declare an emergency at a federal level.
"So if an emergency cannot be declared at a federal level, what can we do at a local level and why are we declaring any emergencies?"
Councillor Pinson said the state had the power to declare emergencies.
The Mayor said climate change protesters were really suggesting the government needed to act.
"Our highest level of government is the federal government and I think that these protesters, and they really do care about the environment, are basically saying we want to put pressure on governments and we want you to do something about this on behalf of us.
"There's nothing wrong with that, but when it comes to expecting Port Macquarie-Hastings Council to take budgets away from core infrastructure to address something that we have no control over — I just can't adopt that."
'Giant leap backwards'
Local climate activists protested outside the council chambers before the meeting.
Harry Creamer, from the Hastings branch of Climate Change Australia, said he was dismayed by the decision.
"This is one giant leap backwards for our community," Mr Creamer said.
"We need to be on emergency footing and last night they took away that focus.
"This is not good for our community. It gives us a bad name and it creates division in our community."
Councillors who voted against the motion were Councillors Lauren Edwards and Rachel Sheppard.
