IN successfully pushing for an upgrade of the Lavington pool to be brought forward, deputy mayor Amanda Cohn has been accused of ambushing her Albury Council colleagues.
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A row over the conduct of Cr Cohn flared as councillors discussed the adoption of the city's latest budget.
Former mayor Henk van de Ven was upset that Cr Cohn only informed councillors of her plan to change the timeframe for the pool improvements hours before Monday night's meeting.
Cr Cohn moved to have the swimming hub upgrade occur in 2023-24 rather than 2024-25 as first planned.
Cr van de Ven sought to dump that change, declaring Cr Cohn had not adequately notified councillors of her step.
"It is particularly annoying to have this item having to be dealt with, when the rest of the budget has been discussed by councillors and by staff on the basis of these are the things we agree with," he said.
"I don't think that this is that important that it needs to be in this particular budget."
Ex-mayor Alice Glachan said it was "very frustrating" to have the pool move added and councillor Graham Docksey said Cr Cohn had "ambushed" her colleagues via her action.
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Cr Cohn rejected the suggestion she had indulged in a thought bubble, saying she was responding to community concern that the pool upgrade was being delayed.
She said staff advice on cost and the year for the work had not been forthcoming until Monday, prompting the late notice.
Cr Cohn noted that other changes had been made to the budget in response to public feedback, including bringing forward to 2021-22 from 2022-23 the sealing of Hawksview Road, Wirlinga.
That followed an outcry from residents who submissions pointed out that the city had promised it would be tarred in 2006 and dust continued to prove a headache for residents.
One of them Syd Lukin was thankful for the council's move.
"We would like to see it sooner but we've been waiting this long and at least it's on the radar whereas before it wasn't on the radar," Mr Lukin said.
Residents say increased traffic in the area from housing extending east of Thurgoona had seen more cars on their road which was the last in the neighbourhood to still be dirt.
Sandy Smith has lived on Hawksview Road for 34 years.
"It doesn't matter how tight you close the windows it gets in and you could wash your car and within half-an-hour you've got a layer of dust over it," she said.
"It wears you out a bit and it would be wonderful to get it sealed."
