A NSW council has rescinded its climate change emergency declaration.
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Port Macquarie-Hastings Council on the NSW Mid-North Coast is the first council in the state to drop the declaration.
The decision to rescind the declaration has prompted concern, with a rally held outside council chambers on Wednesday afternoon.
Residents and community groups previously lobbied council for the declaration that was established at the March 2021 meeting.
Harry Creamer, a longtime concerned community member, said rescinding the Climate Change Emergency Declaration was against community wishes.
"A 2019 poll showed more than 80 per cent of Australians want governments to enhance their climate action, and here in the Port Macquarie-Hastings Local Government Area, a survey of 102 local residents in 2020 showed that 87 per cent want council to do more to tackle climate change," he said.
"Port Macquarie-Hastings Council will be the first Australian council to axe its climate change emergency declaration.
"It sends a message that council is not ready to defend us against the next round of extreme weather events."
Councillor Sharon Griffiths put forward the motion at the council meeting on Wednesday. She said she believes the declaration is a waste of council's resources.
"Climate change is not the role of local government, but is the role of other levels of government," she said. "We need to get back to basics and not get involved in high level discussions. It is just tying up resources.
"Actions need to be decided at a higher level and filtered down to a council level."
Councillor Lauren Edwards put forward a lengthy amendment aimed at taking into consideration residents' wishes to remain under a Climate Change Emergency Declaration.
"I have received a significant number of emails regarding this motion that shows the community is passionate about this issue," Cr Edwards said.
"The declaration was made in the first place because of this and shows the desire from the community to see this declaration in place."
Councillor Lipovac agreed: "We need to read the room and support our community," he said.
Other councillors spoke to the amended motion but Cr Griffiths disagreed, saying it was not council's responsibility to take the lead on every issue.
"There are other levels of government that should do this," she said.
Mayor Peta Pinson agreed with Cr Griffiths: "We have tested community sentiment on this issue and read the room. There are pockets of people actively involved in shaking the tree, but they're shaking the wrong tree," she said.
"We need to get back to what our community expects of us."
After toing and froing the council moved to rescind its Climate Change Emergency Declaration, request the CEO revise the adopted Climate Change Response Policy to reflect this, requested the CEO to provide a further report to council outlining the proposed amendments to the policy, note that the Climate Change Response Police with proposed amendments be placed on public exhibition and that a further report be provided to council outlining submissions received during the exhibition period.
Mr Creamer said this is a backwards step for council.
"Everywhere around Australia, and the world, there are extreme weather events taking place," he said.
"This council cannot turn its back on the climate emergency and think that it can get away with it. A majority of citizens want action on climate.
"This is a backwards step and we will regret it. It sends a bad message to the rest of the state and the country.
"It has been said that climate action should be left to the Federal Government, but Local Government needs to help both the Federal Government and State Government reach their targets.
