Fairfax Media contacted Cr Blackmore this week after he appeared frustrated at two recent council meetings when he struggled to find a mover and a seconder on some meeting agenda items.

“Councillors are at the end of a four-year term and they want to know what’s going on and if they will be part of a council or not,” Cr Blackmore said. “I understand councillors have been hesitant and they want to know what the final outcome will be but our hands are tied and there is a lack of enthusiasm,” he said.

Retiring councillor Steve Procter said councillors were frustrated because they were restricted in what they could do. “There’s not a lot of excitement coming to the meetings because of the merger. We’re not allowed to initiate any big actions, we’re only allowed to carry out day-to-day type things,” he said.

While stage two of The Levee Project and the construction of the city’s new aquatic centre were already on the drawing board, council could push forward with those projects.

“Yes there may be a lack of interest in what we’re dealing with, particularly with policy issues, which can be fairly mundane,” Cr Procter said.

“I know my time is up and I’m deliberately stepping back because some councillors are putting in very little effort. You know who is and who isn’t. There are some who should be considering stepping down because their heart is not in it anymore,” Cr Procter said.

Cr Blackmore said he doesn’t want councillors speaking for the sake of it. “We’re not there for entertainment. We have excellent employees who put forward recommendations and we are happy to move those items without debate. On the whole council is doing fine.”

He believes the government is waiting for reports from three delegates commissioned to look at the possibile of mergers of Newcastle and Port Stephens, Maitland and Dungog and Port Stephens and Dungog and that a merger announcement will be made after the September elections to save confusion.