Councillors agree job takes at least 20 hours a week

Six months into the job and three-and-half years to go; how are Central Coast councillors coping with their new roles?

Coast Community News asked the councillors to tell us how much time their role was taking, after a councillor at another NSW council last week resigned saying the hours were too much.

Bellingen Shire Council’s deputy mayor, Councillor Ellie Tree, stepped down citing workload with being a single mum of three, study and a full-time job.

It was her second term.

Former Central Coast Administrator Rik Hart spoke at candidate information nights before the Coast elected councillors in September last year and made it sound like the role would not take up much time, maybe eight hours a week, and that it was like being a director on a board.

Minister for Local Government Ron Hoenig disagreed with the director description, as noted when he spoke at a local government conference and told councillors to close their ears when someone said that to them.

Journalist Merilyn Vale asked our councillors how much time was involved.

Here’s what five councillors who responded said ( in order of response).

Councillor Margot Castles: “From my experience to date, I would estimate it to be at least 25 hours a week at a minimum.”

Councillor Jared Wright: “I would say at least 20 hours per week on average and that’s across meetings, workshops, briefings, reading and getting across material, liaising with local residents, community engagement at local meetings and events, plus any social media, and media. 

“I like to make myself open to the community, so I make an effort to respond to every social media comment, email and phone call.

“That’s what the community expect so it is my job to deliver on that. 

“Most days I will try and flick through the local community Facebook pages and that’s often where I uncover local issues.

“The need to repair Tramway Rd in North Avoca this week is a good example of that. 

“Above all, I think to be seen and heard you have to put in the time.

“It’s certainly not all ribbon cutting; in fact, I am yet to do that.”

Councillor Trent McWaide: “I’m doing between 20 and 30 hours per week; if I’m honest.

“It’s more when you consider attending public events, meetings, briefings, meeting ratepayers (travel), reading (takes the most amount of time) then researching.

“I’ve currently got my emails down to 477 unread.

“Managing your own calendar is even hard. 

“It is a lot.

“I’m not whinging because I love it.

“But the structure needs to change if they want the best results.

“I’m of the opinion they should have a one civic staff member dedicated to each ward and they can help with admin etc. 

“In 3.5 years when we move to nine councillors, good luck finding appropriate candidates unless they make it full time.”

Councillor John McNamara: “I spend an average of about 20 hours per week (two to three hours per day) on Council matters and I choose to do that amount of time and I love it.

“I am retired and understood the time commitment before I put my hand up for the election, as I was a Wyong Shire Councillor back in 2008-2012.

“I knew the time commitment was not just for the short term but over the full four-year term.

“When you have a Council meeting once a month it is not just about reading and understanding the 1,000 pages of agenda items and reports.

“There are briefings and workshops to attend and also travelling to meet with ratepayers who have site issues like dangerous trees or road repair requests in their street.

“I also put up my hand to be the Chair of the Economic Development Committee because of my background in Global Business and I had the time to commit to the role.

“Being Chair of a Committee probably adds two hours a week to my Council work time.

“Thankfully we can now use the online Teams software to attend meetings if we cannot make it into the chamber or briefing room for personal reasons.”

Councillor Helen Crowley: “I spend about two hours per day on reading emails from Council and constituents, then on various days I would add to that another 4-6 hours either at community meetings and/or Council meetings.

“We all have a lot of reading when the business papers are released; recently one had 1,000 pages to get through.

“So I spend between 14 and 24 hours per week which is an average of 3.5 hours per day and the remuneration we receive is approximately $9 per hour before tax.”

No other councillor replied.

Councillors at different councils get paid different rates depending on the size of the council.

On the Coast, councillors get $35,620 at present and that will rise by 3% maximum next financial year depending on what the councillors decide.

The community voted at the last council election, in September last year, to reduce the number of councillors on the Coast from 15 to 9 and the corresponding wards from five to three.

The make-up of those three wards is yet to be determined.