Rates & spending · Shoalhaven City Council
Three Finance and Infrastructure panel seats left vacant as Shoalhaven pauses recruitment
Mark Crowther, Peter Dun and Stuart Coughlan resigned from the panel, but Council will review its terms of reference before recruiting replacements.
Reporting from public council minutes. How this article was prepared
Three community seats on Shoalhaven City Council’s Finance and Infrastructure Review Panel will remain unfilled for now after councillors deferred recruitment pending a review of the panel’s terms of reference.
The unconfirmed minutes of the 27 October meeting record a resolution to receive the resignations of Mark Crowther, Peter Dun and Stuart Coughlan, write to thank them for their contributions and invite them to participate in exit interviews.
The resolution also directs Council to review the Committee Terms of Reference before restarting recruitment. It says candidates who were recently interviewed are to be advised of the current process when a future expression-of-interest process begins.
The final resolution replaced the original recommendation, which proposed recruiting three community members for two-year terms. It was recorded as carried unanimously, with all 13 listed councillors recorded as voting for it and none against.
The minutes do not give a date for the terms-of-reference review or the next expression-of-interest process, leaving the timing of new appointments open.
What deserves a closer look
The final resolution differs from the original recommendation by deferring recruitment and adding a terms-of-reference review before the process resumes.
The minutes specify no date for completing the review or beginning the next expression-of-interest process.
The resolution directs Council to write thanks and invitations to exit interviews; the supplied record does not establish that those letters were sent or interviews occurred.
Questions for follow-up reporting
When will Council review the Committee Terms of Reference?
When will the next expression-of-interest process open?
Will the terms-of-reference review change the panel's membership or appointment arrangements?
What happens next
Council is directed to review the Committee Terms of Reference, with recruitment deferred until that review is complete.
Council is directed to write to thank the three resigning members and invite them to participate in exit interviews.
When a future expression-of-interest process begins, Council is directed to advise recently interviewed candidates of the current process.
Check the record
These passages were matched to the source text. Read them in context in the original minutes.
The final resolution called for Council to receive the resignations of Mark Crowther, Peter Dun and Stuart Coughlan, write to thank them for their contributions to the Finance and Infrastructure Review Panel and invite them to participate in an exit interview.
RESOLVED (Mayor White / Clr Clancy) MIN26.395 That Council: 1. Receive the following resignations and write to thank them for their contributions to the Finance and Infrastructure Review Panel and invite them to participate in an exit interview: a. Mr Mark Crowther b. Mr Peter Dun c. Mr Stuart Coughlan 2. Review the Committee Terms of Reference and defer the recruitment process until the review Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting 27 October 2026 Page 12 Minutes Confirmed Tuesday 24 November 2026 – Chairperson .........................................................................
CL26.268, MIN26.395, part 1
Open original minutes ↗Council resolved to review the Committee Terms of Reference and defer recruitment until the review is complete.
RESOLVED (Mayor White / Clr Clancy) MIN26.395 That Council: 1. Receive the following resignations and write to thank them for their contributions to the Finance and Infrastructure Review Panel and invite them to participate in an exit interview: a. Mr Mark Crowther b. Mr Peter Dun c. Mr Stuart Coughlan 2. Review the Committee Terms of Reference and defer the recruitment process until the review Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting 27 October 2026 Page 12 Minutes Confirmed Tuesday 24 November 2026 – Chairperson ......................................................................... is complete. 3. At the commencement of future Expressions of Interest process, write to the recently interviewed candidates and advise them of the current process. FOR: Mayor White, Clr Wilkins, Clr Killian, Clr Boyd, Clr Tribe, Clr Krikstolaitis, Clr Norris, Clr Dunn, Clr Proudfoot, Clr Casmiri, Clr Clancy, Clr Steele and Clr Kemp AGAINST: Nil CARRIED Items marked with an * were resolved without debate.
CL26.268, MIN26.395, part 2
Open original minutes ↗Recently interviewed candidates are to be advised of the current process when a future expression-of-interest process begins. The minutes list 13 votes for and none against and record the motion as carried.
is complete. 3. At the commencement of future Expressions of Interest process, write to the recently interviewed candidates and advise them of the current process. FOR: Mayor White, Clr Wilkins, Clr Killian, Clr Boyd, Clr Tribe, Clr Krikstolaitis, Clr Norris, Clr Dunn, Clr Proudfoot, Clr Casmiri, Clr Clancy, Clr Steele and Clr Kemp AGAINST: Nil CARRIED Items marked with an * were resolved without debate.
CL26.268, MIN26.395, part 3 and voting list
Open original minutes ↗The original recommendation proposed commencing recruitment for three community members of the Finance and Infrastructure Review Panel for a two-year term.
FOR: Mayor White, Clr Wilkins, Clr Killian, Clr Boyd, Clr Tribe, Clr Krikstolaitis, Clr Norris, Clr Dunn, Clr Proudfoot, Clr Casmiri, Clr Clancy, Clr Steele and Clr Kemp AGAINST: Nil CARRIED CL26.268 Finance and Infrastructure Review Panel - Member Resignations HPERM Ref: D26/442461 Recommendation That Council: 1. Receive the following resignations and write to thank them for their contributions to the Finance and Infrastructure Review Panel: a. Mr Mark Crowther b. Mr Peter Dun c. Mr Stuart Coughlan 2. Endorse the commencement of a recruitment process for the appointment of three Community Members to the Finance and Infrastructure Review Panel for a two-year term in accordance with the Committee Terms of Reference.
CL26.268, recommendation, part 2
Open original minutes ↗The document identifies the meeting date as 27 October 2026 and carries a confirmation line dated 24 November 2026.
Minutes Confirmed Tuesday 24 November 2026 – Chairperson ......................................................................... Meeting Minutes MINUTES OF THE ORDINARY MEETING Meeting Date: Tuesday, 27 October 2026 Location: Council Chambers, City Administrative Building, Bridge Road, Nowra Time: 5:30 PM The following members were present: Mayor Patricia White - Chairperson Clr Peter Wilkins (Remotely) Clr Debbie Killian (Remotely) – joined at 5:35pm Clr Gillian Boyd Clr Jemma Tribe Clr Ben Krikstolaitis Clr Matthew Norris Clr Karlee Dunn Clr Bob Proudfoot Clr Luciano Casmiri Clr Selena Clancy Clr Brett Steele Clr Denise Kemp (Remotely) A
Document heading and confirmation line
Open original minutes ↗Source record
Reporting from the unconfirmed minutes of Shoalhaven City Council’s Ordinary Meeting held on 27 October 2026. The document carries a confirmation line dated 24 November 2026, which was still in the future at the supplied 30 October 2026 source-check date; confirmation is not treated as established.
Key facts from the minutes
- The minutes record a resolution to receive the resignations of Mark Crowther, Peter Dun and Stuart Coughlan.
- Recruitment for three community members was deferred until a review of the Committee Terms of Reference is complete.
- The recently interviewed candidates are to be advised of the current process when a future expression-of-interest process begins.
- The recorded vote was 13 for and none against.
- The minutes do not specify when the review or recruitment will be completed.
Why it matters
- Recruitment for the panel’s three community positions is on hold until Council completes its terms-of-reference review, delaying the next opportunity for applicants to seek appointment.