The United Services Union rally was held in Civic Plaza, across the road from the council administration building, and was attended in the most part by union members who had been at an earlier stop-work meeting.

They were joined by a handful of residents and community activists, making up a crowd of about 350 people.

Plan a gutless attack on workers: union

USU industrial officer Greg Golledge said the demonstration was designed to give the community a voice, following contentious consultation methods the council has used as it strives to get its long-term budget under control.

The ‘‘randomly chosen’’ panel of 34 citizens handed down 65 suggestions – including cuts to libraries, tidal pools, playgrounds and parks, the outsourcing of tourist parks and labour and ‘‘greater efficiencies’’ within the council – which have sparked widespread confusion and outrage among many in the community.  

Deputy Lord Mayor and Labor councillor Chris Connor addressed the crowd first, in an effort to reassure people no decisions had been made by councillors.

He said he and the other Labor councillors would represent workers’ rights and fight for services.

‘‘We are committed to jobs, we’re committed to making sure that your awards and conditions are secure,’’ Cr Connor said.

‘‘We’re also going to fight for services to make sure [they] are equitably distributed throughout this community, because taking away services, in any way, strikes at the heart of equity.’’

Cr Connor criticised the citizens panel for only considering the best economic result, rather than how their plans would affect people, but also reminded the crowd they were simply ordinary residents who had put their hand up to ‘‘have a go’’.

Lord Mayor Gordon Bradbery also spoke, saying the rally was ‘‘exactly what we need’’ to allow councillors to hear a broad range of views.

He said he shared Cr Connor’s concerns, but also reminded the crowd the financial review was necessary to ensure the council could continue to deliver its current services and fix its assets.

‘‘When I cannot open Mount Keira because we don’t have the money, when we have beach vegetation and we can’t see the beach and when we have situations where children in Coalcliff and Coledale cannot walk to school on a footpath at the side of the road, that is what we’re on about,’’ Cr Bradbery said.

The only other councillor spotted at the rally was independent Greg Petty.

Other speakers included Felix Bronneberg, from the Save Our Service group, South Coast Labour Council secretary Arthur Rorris and Wollongong MP Noreen Hay.

General manager David Farmer, stood at the back of the crowd for most of the rally, and was heckled with cries of ‘‘Where’s Farmer?’’ before he agreed to speak.

He repeated previous statements, saying the council was in a good position short-term but had to focus on its future finances to maintain its assets and services.

‘‘We have to have this conversation with the community about what people value and what changes we need to make to ensure...we can still deliver safe footpaths, drains that work, roads that don’t damage people’s vehicles and libraries we can use,’’ Mr Farmer said.

‘‘It’s not an easy conversation because it challenges things that people hold dear...but as a community we have to face up to this issue.’’

Mr Farmer said the community would have almost nine months to provide feedback before any decisions  were made.