As well as discussions about the proposed boundaries of the Joint Organisations, there is a letter from the Parliamentary Secretary to the NSW Premier, Catherine Cusack, asking about the community’s willingness to welcome asylum seekers being resettled under the Safe Haven Enterprise Visa (SHEV).

The visa has been introduced as an alternative to the Temporary Protection Visa and offers a five year option to live, study and work in regional NSW to those assessed as genuine refugees. Sydney, Newcastle, Wollongong and Central Coast are specifically excluded.

In the report to the councillors, the recommendation is to put the proposal to the Mid North Coast Regional Councils group (MIDROC) or the proposed Joint Organisation for a regional response, in which Nambucca Shire would willingly be involved.

The mayor Rhonda Hoban said while the shire community was generous of spirit, “in my view people would genuinely struggle to give refugees financial assistance”.

“We are not a wealthy community. My concern is that ready access to low-cost housing, employment and the necessary support services are not available here,” Cr Hoban said.

“We have no real interpreter services in the shire and there are also the dilemmas for local schools taking in students where English is their second language … these students and these schools would need Government support.

“There is also the question of how to help families who may need access to specific medical and/or mental health services … we are not equipped for that here and there is no public transport for people to easily access those services in Coffs Harbour or Port Macquarie.”

She said careful thought needed to be given as to how to approach the offer and how to make it successful.

“I think we need to look to a regional approach and we also need to talk to the community.”