Shire of Waroona council disqualifies Ryan Woodbury after missing his third consecutive meeting

A councillor in the State’s Peel region has been booted from his Shire after failing to show up for a single meeting since he had been elected just months prior. Waroona Shire councillor Ryan Woodbury was this week disqualified after missing an ordinary meeting on Tuesday night, which marked the third in a row he did not attend. Mr Woodbury’s breach of the Local Government Act brings the total number of elected members on council down to seven. Since being sworn in in October, Mr Woodbury had failed to attend three consecutive meetings because of his job as a plumber in Lake Clifton. Shire president Mike Walmsley said Mr Woodbury had been extremely busy with work after losing employees who the Harvey-Waroona Reporter understands either refused the COVID vaccination or took jobs on the mines. Cr Walmsley said Mr Woodbury had every intention to make Tuesday’s meeting and even had “his suit in the car”, but a work call that afternoon meant he could not fulfill his duties. “Unfortunately Ryan hasn’t met his obligations around the role of a councillor,” Cr Walmsley said. “I understand he has had circumstances surrounding his business that have made him incredibly busy and he has contractual obligations around what he has to do. “He didn’t request a leave of absence because I think he thought he would be coming to council, but each time it has clashed.” The disqualification of a councillor would normally trigger an extraordinary election, but CEO Mark Goodlet said he had the ability to ask the Local Government Minister to delay the process. If this is accepted, Mr Goodlet will hold a councillor numbers review to see if the community accepts reducing to seven councillors. If that is found to not be the case, an extraordinary election would be held. Mr Goodlet said the council would prefer to not have an extraordinary election as it is expected to cost $20,000 and it expected its council numbers to be reduced due to proposed local government reform. Waroona has a population of around 5000 people and the proposed reforms contain a tiered system which means a local government with a population of up to 5000 would elect five councillors. A local government with a population of 5000 to 75,000 would elect five to nine. Mr Woodbury was voted in October alongside Cr Dion Pisconeri when they were two of only four people to nominate for the same number of vacancies. Mr Woodbury said at the time he was focused on helping people across the district, not just in the town of Waroona. “More than anything I am very humbled to be in a position to help the outer areas of Waroona,” he said. “I am a Lake Clifton local (so I want to) be able to help the outer areas (including) Lake Clifton and Preston Beach. “(To) bring a voice from the people back into the council chambers is a pretty massive thing.” Mr Woodbury was contacted for comment.