Robe Mayor Alison Nunan has launched an extraordinary attack on a major social media platform.

“I truly wish that (social media) did not exist during January,” wrote Ms Nunan in the latest Robe District Council newsletter.

“Although it was helpful to get information out, the damage done to some people’s relationships and businesses as comments flew around was hard to watch.

“I hope that our community settles and rebuilds the threads that bind us.”

Much of her monthly commentary focused on the impact of COVID.

“It dominated our Christmas and New Year period as we all figured it would,” Mayor Nunan said.

“Some businesses handled it well, others not so well and rolling isolation periods meant many found themselves either short staffed or having to close due to lack of staff. Our community spent significant time bunkered down at a time of celebration.

“Nothing about January 2022 was easy.

“The COVID statistics for Robe during the outbreak did not reflect what was happening here as the results of the tests are attributed to the postcode of the patient which meant that some of the numbers in places like Mount Gambier, Horsham and Adelaide could be attributed to visiting Robe.

“There were good and bad stories to come out of it all. Again, plenty of neighbours and friends stepped up to help each other as well as visitors who found themselves having to isolate here in Robe.

“Our businesses mostly turned themselves inside out to ensure they were open as much as they could be, closed when they needed to be and the feedback from our visitors has been overall positive.

“Decision making under duress is always hard and along with pressure, be it financial or moral, can cloud our judgement.

“I think it would be fair to say that most (but not all) of the decisions made during early January centred on health and not money.

“We have got used to living alongside of COVID and managing through the maze of information.

“It feels as though everyone has breathed a sigh of relief that we have dealt with our first real outbreak of COVID.”

Mayor Nunan has expressed her disappointment at recent adverse commentary in the community about the Robe District Council.

“Misinformation raised its ugly head again and this time the rumours about what council was and was not doing were next level,” she said.

“I’m putting it down to our community being under stress.

“That said, how about we all take some responsibility for finding out the correct information from the people who actually know?

“It just might help prevent people getting so wound up about rumours at a time when there are plenty of other things to worry about.”