Mayor Tony Allen said that the meeting had been designed to allow the public to come and ask questions or make comments relevant to council on issues they were concerned about.

In the end it was largely left to councillors and council staff to provide some information on projects of Merimbula interest.

General manager Peter Tegart said that after the meeting councillors would walk the central business area to look at where new roadways proposed under the Merimbula Traffic Study might be built.

This would include an extension of Sapphire Coast Drive to join up with the present road system around the back of Top Fun, and which would also provide an additional parking area.

Mr Tegart said that the Development Application for the proposed new Woolworths store in Main Street and its developer Gerald Rawson had also been involved in these discussions.

The new roadway would provide a double frontage with all deliveries to the new Woolworths coming in from the rear street in the longer term.

It was likely to be a staged development with deliveries off Main Street for a limited time.

There was also consideration of a roadway running from the corner of Monaro Street and Market Street to link up with Reid Street via the Palmer Street car park.

Mayor Allen asked if there had been any progress in the proposed merger of the Merimbula Area Chamber of Commerce and Tourism (Maccat) and the Merimbula Area Community Association (MACA).

He said that while council’s actions had not always been popular it was about building some mutual respect.

“The intention of us all is to move this shire forward in the right direction,” he said.

Ted McKeon of Merimbula and Sapphire Coast Promotions said that his organisation had made offers to Sapphire Coast Tourism to work with them but had not received a very positive response.

MACA chairman Steve Brickley briefed council on progress of the new lakefront fencing and footpath and said that up to $100,000 more would be needed to complete the work around to the Ice Creamery.

He said he hoped more Federal Government funding might be available under the new “Pennies from Kevin” grants.

Mr Tegart said that a solution to the boat refuelling problem on Merimbula Lake was also being investigated.

This could involve tanker delivery to the new jetty, which would require construction of a lay by lane and a stainless steel line running under the jetty.