THE fence around the Bega High School will go ahead without any modification, following a decision of the Bega Valley Shire Council this week.
The Department of Education and Training submitted a development application to council for the 2.1 metre fence after public outcry that such a fence was inappropriate for Bega.
Council staff recommended that the application be approved as submitted but some councillors felt the height of the fence and the spear tops were unacceptable.
They resolved last October to negotiate conditions for the fence, including a maximum height of 1.8 metres, removal of the crimped tops and a change of colour from black to green.
They said those changes would ensure the fence was appropriate to the character of the setting of Bega High School and the locality in general and its effectiveness as a security measure.
However, the department refused to budge on any aspects of the development application “as it strongly believes that the fence design as submitted is appropriate to the character of Bega High School and the locality in general and optimises its effectiveness as a security measure”.
When the DA came before council for decision on Tuesday, staff again recommended approval and Cr Joyce McGill moved accordingly.
“I don’t believe children are being hurt and if they do get stuck on the fence then that’s their problem. I have no sympathy for them,” she said.
Cr Tony Allen seconded the motion saying it distressed him to see children locked in a room “because of decisions this council hasn’t made”.
Cr Mike Skitt spoke against the motion saying there was nothing in the staff report that changed the situation.
“Let’s not roll over now,” he said.
“Tell me where we need spikes on a fence in the Bega Valley Shire – we don’t even have them on car yards where there is something worth knocking off,” he said.
Cr David Hede said he was amazed that council was going through the exercise – “whatever we do, it’s going to happen anyway,” he said.
“Let’s get on with it.”
Cr Bill Taylor said council was the planning authority and had to take account of what the community wanted.
It should hold out for a 1.8 metre fence – the extra centimetres would not make any difference to the security of students and staff, he said.
Cr Keith Hughes said 30 centimetres was not “a big deal” on a six foot fence.
“We are being used to sort out tensions that should have been dealt with at school level,” he said.
He foreshadowed a motion that the matter be deferred to let the school go back to the P and C Association and the community and come up with a solution.
“We don’t have the power to refuse this DA but we do have the power not to approve it.
“That would be a good community outcome; the role for us is to represent the community.”
Cr Janette Neilson said the school had spent more than $100,000 in recent years to rectify vandalism, money that could have been spent on educating children.
She said teachers were afraid to be on site after hours and students with disabilities, kept in a very small area, were at risk.
The Department of Education had assessed what was needed to keep children safe, protect property and protect employees.
It had determined that a 2.1 metre fence was what was needed “and who are we to disagree?”
Cr Fraser Buchanan said council was not opposing the fence, just the style and height of it.
When the vote was put it was lost, five votes to four with Crs McGill, Allen, Neilson, Aveyard and Hede in favour and Crs Skitt, Taylor, Hughes and Buchanan against.
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