Shire Councils and their elected members and staff are easy targets of abuse by disgruntled community members, and Warrumbungle Shire is reminding people it's just not good enough.

Several incidences of abuse of staff and councillors have been recorded across NSW during this year alone.

This has provoked Warrumbungle Council to make a public announcement around respect

"It’s not ok to abuse Council staff," the announcement states. "In the face of increasing workloads and evolving community needs, council staff continue to deliver valuable services with dedication and professionalism. Unfortunately, like many other businesses, staff have experienced incidents of abuse by members of the public."

Warrumbungle Council said they understand that at times, certain circumstances may be stressful and frustrating for residents as well, particularly when dealing with essential services and community issues, not least the long period of time recently spent dealing with disaster recovery efforts including to local and regional roads.

Abuse of council staff is nothing new. In July, Broken Hill City Council closed the ’roundhouse’ public toilet on due to ongoing antisocial behaviour in the area. They took this step of closing the toilets during scheduled cleanings, with staff locking themselves inside while working in order to escape abuse and harassment.

Abuse is not isolated to western councils. Earlier this year, Snowy Monaro Regional Council voted to take action to protect councillors and staff from social media posts that threaten, intimidate, harass, humiliate, slander, defame or troll them.

The motion now gives the council the ability to report such actions, take legal action where possible and make complaints to the eSafety Commissioner.

At the Yarra Ranges Council, they have been forced to close the doors on meetings, due to "a consistent and increasing pattern of verbal abuse, intimidation and anti-social behaviour" by some members of the public. Residents are no longer allowed to physically attend meetings at a council in Melbourne's outer east, which said the move was necessary due to abusive behaviour from the public gallery.

Closer to home, Warrumbungle Shire Council suggested a positive attitude can have a ripple effect throughout the community, encouraging not just council staff but also fellow residents to engage in constructive dialogues and collaborations.

"Be Patient, high-quality service takes time," they advise. "Staff may be dealing with complex issues that require attention to detail. Be respectful; everyone deserves respect, regardless of their job role.

"Our staff are not just employees; they are your neighbours, friends, and family. Treating them with kindness enhances the quality of life for everyone in the community. We are all here to serve and improve our community, and it’s much easier to achieve that when we work together in a positive atmosphere."