Bridge Club rethink after motion lost

KATINA CURTIS

A RECISSION motion brought to last week's council meeting with the hope of reaching a compromise for the bridge club's closing time was defeated.

One of the councillors who sponsored the motion, Warren Steel, said he was not sorry the motion was lost and restated his position that he was being pragmatic in his voting.

"The people who elected me, I'm representing them, so I've got to listen to them," he said.

"Lots of people from the Bridge Club approached me (to represent them), but nobody from the other group ever approached me. My word's my bond and I didn't want to go back on it."

He said again that he did not think Bonaira Reserve was the right place for the clubhouse to be built and suggested Iluka Reserve in Kiama Downs might be a more suitable alternative.

Bridge Club president Theo Mangos said members understood it was a difficult problem for the councillors and accepted the decision.

He said he thought some of the information provided by residents opposing the time change was inaccurate.

"The circulation of the petition presented to councillors was accompanied by comments that the hall would have a liquor licence, poker machines and wedding receptions," he said.

"These comments were, of course, untrue and we feel they unfairly influenced councillors in their decision-making process."

At the meeting, a number of councillors said they opposed the rescission motion because the council had already confirmed the 10pm curfew several times.

Councillors Steel, Trevor Fredericks and Brendan Comber voted for the motion and councillors Jones, Joyce Wheatley, Ruth Devenney and Nerissa Bradley voted against it. Mayor Sandra McCarthy and Cr Hamish East did not attend the meeting.

Mr Mangos said the Bridge Club's building committee had met last Friday to discuss what to do next, but he declined to comment on the meeting's outcome.