ALBURY Mayor Henk van de Ven put a stop to any discussion about the creation of three outdoor basketball courts in the city at the final council meeting before the September 10 election.
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Citing council's code of meeting practice, Cr van de Ven said it ruled out any debate on the issue after accepting the petition for the courts proposed by basketball coach Chris Maginnity and backed by three current councillors.
“It clearly states what the process is,” Cr van de Ven said.
Mr Maginnity was in the gallery for the meeting on Monday night at which Cr Darren Cameron attempted to have a discussion about sporting facilities in the urgent business section of the meeting.
But he was also shut down by the mayor.
“Sporting facilities in this city is a continuing story,” Cr van de Ven said.
“The process we've gone through in accepting this petition and then waiting for the general manager to come back with a report to council is the appropriate way to deal with this so-called urgent and emergent issue,” he said.
Cr Cameron, Cr Kevin Mack and Cr Ross Jackson have thrown their support behind courts.
Cr Cameron's ticket No.2 Christian Kunde is also backing the outdoor courts being built.
The petition collected by Mr Maginnity has attracted close to 1000 signatures.
The August meeting signalled the final gathering of councillors before next month's election with Greens candidates, Amanda Cohn and Geoff Hudson, also in the gallery on Monday.
All councillors with the exception of Cr Daryl Betteridge are standing for re-election.
Cr Patricia Gould retired earlier this year after more than four decades on council.
