WODONGA'S mayor has criticised fire and environment authorities for failing to participate in the city's hills planning.
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Anna Speedie on Monday night expressed dismay that the CFA and Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning had not fulfilled duties expected of them.
"What's very disappointing is when you have paid authorities that are actually supposed to be sitting at the table and they don't bother to turn up, despite being contacted multiple times," Cr Speedie said.
The mayor was referring to the organisations' lack of interest in the council's Wodonga Hills Advisory Group on which they have a seat alongside community figures and Indigenous citizens.
Monday night's council meeting heard the group had in 70 per cent of meetings failed to have a quorum of at least six of nine members.
The council agreed to receive an interim report of the group, but have it circulated among stakeholders for 21 days before another meeting for ratification ahead an update being provided to council in June.
Cr Ron Mildren, who joined Cr Libby Hall, in voting against that move wanted to have the report open to public feedback as well as specialist input.
"I believe that what we should be doing is going out to full public comment on the hierarchy and structure of the priorities and just see what the community's views are," Cr Mildren said.
Cr Brian Mitchell said allowing public input would "open Pandora's box".
"The timing that we have in mind to finalise this could be blown out by not months but years, so that was the reasoning behind keeping it to the stakeholders rather than all and sundry," he said.
Meanwhile, a $1.269 million tender was awarded to Southern Cross Developers to build a new indoor cricket training hub at Birallee Park.
Councillors noted a budget shortfall, but Cr Danny Lowe said it offered a great opportunity for cricket that would span decades.
Cr Speedie noted Cricket Albury Wodonga chairman Michael Erdeljac in the gallery as the tender passed.