About 70 people attended the gathering in the Cessnock Community Performing Arts Centre seniors room chaired by Deputy Mayor, Cr, Ian Olsen.

It was addressed by Councillors Cordelia Burcham (Liberal), Neil Gorman (National) and James Ryan (Greens), as well as by community members Imants Magrics, Roger Lewis and Lance Beckett.

The meeting unanimously resolved to;

1) Condemn the Minister for Planning for proposing to take away the ability of the democratically elected councillors of Cessnock to make planning decisions on behalf of the community.

2) To call on the Minister to provide substance and detail to support his concerns regarding Cessnock City Council.

3) Call on the Minister to make a commitment to hold off on any decision at least until the Department of Local Government have issued their progress report on Cessnock City Council, a report which is due soon.

4) To provide council with a further opportunity to answer the Minister’s concerns after he has provided that detail to the council.

5) The meeting resolved to separately seek a commitment from the NSW Opposition via Planning Spokesperson Brad Hazzard that they would abolish any Planning Panel or Planning Administrator appointed by Minister Kelly if the Coalition wins the March 2011 NSW Election.

NSW Upper House Greens Parliamentarian Sylvia Hale also addressed the meeting. Apologies were tended on behalf of National Party Upper House member Trevor Khan.

Cr. Ryan said that what is being played out is unfair and unwarranted and that a panel would be voting on planning matters, not the councillors.

He said that the cost of providing the panel would be borne by council and that means the ratepayers.

Cr. Cordelia Burcham said they, the planning panel, will not be local people and will have no local empathy.

Ellalong resident, Roger Lewis said the city now has a council prepared to listen. He said council is being chastised for taking too much time. He said the council should be applauded for taking time with planning matters.

The 21 days the planning minister gave council to show cause why its planning powers should not be taken away expires on Friday.