Letters To The Editor

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No pack

Mayoral aspirants for Lismore City Council, Ros Irwin and David Tomlinson, have been to the fore with comment as Council election time draws near.

They have for some time now been placing the blame, for what they say are the woes of the Council, on a group they claim exists within Council and which they have identified as the six pack.

Their assertions relating to the presence of this group, having often been repeated, have become accepted as "fact" by others who find their opinions at variance with the majority of Councillors.

Considering the adverse publicity it has received, particularly from Councillors Irwin and Tomlinson, one might think that the alleged six pack, being the villainous assemblage it has been portrayed, would be appearing as a group in its own right at the coming election.

This is not the case, for those identified as "six packers" are spread throughout some of the various groups contesting the coming ballot.

In my own case I am standing as an ungrouped Independent.

These facts then give the lie to the six-pack being as purported by some people.

In Council I believe that there should be open discussion of matters and then a decision made that reflects the best interests of the community as a whole.

This has been the situation with a number of Council determinations.

There have been instances however where some Councillors, aggrieved at not having a resolution go their way, then obstruct implementation of the majority's wish by introducing a rescission motion.

These tactics were used particularly in the case of the Memorial Baths and work on Skyline Road, with the consequences having been well documented.

Turning to the coming election, voters face a tough task. Many without allegiance to a political party or any particular group will no doubt vote "below the line". By selecting at least 11 names from the 60 that will be below the line, they will be making their own choice as to who they want on Council, rather than have someone else make that decision for them.

On election day then take that little extra time, vote below the line and make the choice yours.

Even with 60 to choose from, you will find it difficult to select 11 you know who might represent you to your satisfaction. It might then come down to a case of the devil you know rather than the one you don't know.

Reg Baxter, OAM, JP
Lismore

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Respect

Mr Wallace (Echo, Mar 11) I don't intend to be rude, by any means, I am just curious as to why you think you are warranted to voice your rather nasty opinion upon everyone else's letters that you do not happen to agree with.

For some silly reason, I was always under the assumption that the 'Letters' section in this wonderful paper was for the purpose of giving people a chance to have their say about something they felt important enough to speak about, not to slag off every reader who does have an opinion.

Without sounding repetitious, if you think you are justified in your insults, then go ahead, but if it's respect that your after, then you're going the wrong way about it.

Isn't it time that this game of 'tit for tat' was over with already? Surely, there is a limit to the amount of times you can repeat yourself, just to prove a point?

With trying to keep as close to the editor's suggestion of 200 words or less, I'm going to leave you with something to think about.

Is it really that hard for you to live with the fact that yes, other people do have opinions, and no, they may not be the same as yours?

Betty Rita
Lismore

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Preferences

I was glad to see that Shaggy mentioned the new voting system being used in the March 27 Council elections in his musings (Echo, Feb 26).

It appears that no advance official information will be issued to voters explaining the changes from previous Council elections. Voters need to work it out on the day by following the instructions on the ballot paper.

The council ballot paper will appear similar to a Senate or State Legislative Council ballot paper with above the line and below the line voting, with most candidates being grouped. It will be a very large ballot paper.

An important difference will be that the groups do not pre-determine where the 2nd, 3rd etc preferences will go, via a registered "How-to-Vote" card.

However, many local groups contesting this election are advising voters wishing to vote for them, how to use their preferences to best ensure the final make up of the Council is the best one for Lismore, from their perspective.

I strongly urge voters to use their preferences and not just vote 1 above the line. Voters can indicate preferences to as many groups as we want, above the line, and this prevents the vote from being 'exhausted' in one group and enables second (or even third or fourth.) favourite candidates get elected for the last available Council seats instead of least favourites.

Voting for smaller groups first and using preferences after that, is not a wasted vote - it gives a voter extra votes that can keep on being counted up to the final outcome.

Julia Melland
Goonellabah

• Lismore Council candidate

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Own man

Re: Julia Melland's letter (Echo, Mar 11).

I have never been a member of a political party. Having attended about 70 per cent of meetings of the current council a sitting councillor approached me to join his ticket which after a months deliberation I did.

Stan Heywood
Rosebank

• Lismore Council candidate

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Older radio

2NCR FM is our "Community" radio station.

Other than mornings at the weekend and a minimal number of times during the week, when does it cater for middle and older age groups as far as music content is concerned? Why does it cater for younger generation taste when they are a minority in the community?

Mavis
Caroona, Goonellabah

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Crossing lights

Why can't flashing lights be installed on all school area speed signs to warn drivers that you are about to enter a 40kmh zone?

As anyone driving from Lismore to Ballina will know you go through 17 different speed zones ranging from 40kmh to 100kmh. There are 3 x 100kmh, 3 x 80kmh, 2 x 70kmh, 5 x 60kmh, 3 x 50kmh and one 40kmh zone.

With having to concentrate on your driving and constantly watching the traffic and changing road conditions it is possible to miss a sign. As some schools have a pupil free day and some don't, knowing if it's a school day and knowing the time is not always easy.

Recently I read in a local paper that a lady was booked for exceeding the 40kph limit outside a school but was let off as she said that her watch read that it was still about 2 minutes before time.

If these signs are there to help protect our children then why not make them stand out so that there can be no excuse.

Michael Wawn
Lismore

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Animal support

The Northern Rivers Animal Shelter runs an Op Shop at 17 Bridge St North Lismore.

On Thursday night, February 12, one of the shops windows were broken by an unknown person/s.

The Echo ran a story regarding this and the response from people has been wonderful.

We have had a lot of people come into the shop to show their support and people have given very generous money donations, which went to pay for a new window.

Our group gets no government funding and is run by hardworking volunteers.

The Op Shop is the main support of the groups many ways in which they help the abandoned and abused animals in this region.

All of the volunteers would like to thank everyone who have come into the shop with money donations, donations of saleable items and the people who shop there and all who have come in with a kind word.

Robyn Mostyn
Secretary
Northern Rivers Animal Shelter

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True Christians

Regarding Lismore High School student recently deprived her prize, due to wording associated in a Will by Lismore businessman George Nesbitt many years ago.

When I attended a Christian Brother's school, Melbourne, about 1943-44, I was led to believe that Protestants included anyone not Catholic.

All local public schools were known as Protestant Schools whether you believed in a God or not. Perhaps Mr. Nesbitt may have meant, that so long as you were Non-Catholic then you were Protestant. (Maybe no religious faith required?) Wasn't this the question asked - whether her parents were Catholic or not? Protestants as such were rarely heard of when I was a kid, now they seem to be a dime a dozen with more than as many name tags.

Although not always as apparent to me as it now is, Christianity is Catholicism. To evaluate Christianity, it is necessary to evaluate Catholicism.

I say this because, for some 1200-1500 years of this era there was but one "True Church" of (a supposed) Christ. Catholicism claims with pride, the origin and authorship of all New Testament books, from within its own holy bosom, by its own canonised saints. It still claims to be the only true‚ "Christian" Church.

The New Testament books are, therefore, distinctively Catholic documents. All the other known sects have sprung or severed from the original "One True Church"(Beginning less that 500 years ago.)

All other forms of the Christian religion originated by withdrawal from the "True Church," and their founders. The way I see it is that the word Protestant can be anyone Non-Catholic, accordingly, I believe this student has been robbed of her prize.

Jim Lee
Alstonville

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Council agenda

What is the NSW State Government's newest agenda? Is it to gain control of local government by political parties through legislative changes?

Why can't we have "first past the post" without preferences, as in Queensland?

Why do I now have to register all material within 8 days of close of nominations with the State Electoral Office, if I want to hand it out on election day?

Why can I no longer put "Vote Howes No.1" and "Your choice No.2 and No.3"?

Why is it now mandatory to put three names beside 1, 2 and 3 on my voting card?

Let me tell you, I think these legislative changes absolutely stink, and are tantamount to blackmail!

There is absolutely no affiliation or link between myself and other candidates whatsoever, yet I have been required by the NSW State Government's new legislation to make you believe that there is.

What does it make me do? Work the preference system, that's what! And just remember how a candidate became a councillor at Byron Bay, yet he only polled one primary vote and got in on preferences!

Now let me ask another question: Why is it going to take up until Tuesday night after the elections to count all the votes, when it was all over and done with on election night in September 1999? How good is the security after the ballot has been conducted and the boxes opened?

I am amazed that candidates are so quiet about these issues, and following due process without questions, like lambs going to the slaughter.

Margaret Howes
Lennox Head

• Ballina Council candidate

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Evil twin?

I had to laugh after reading Mr Causley's letter (Echo, Mar 11) of "crystal clear facts" of the rent rort, as to why I had so many questions.

Mr Causley, you mention names of buildings in Canberra which is meaningless for us un-liberalised country folk. However we do know that properties "just around the corner" to others can vary greatly in standard and value, and hence rental return. As for the commercial tenant you mention, is it the laundrette in the basement, or the windowless room for the telemarketing company? Is the National Audit Office in the penthouse with spectacular views?

You are in the federal government of the day, and I assume the National Audit Office is a federal government body. Isn't it your responsibility to ensure the community receives value for money? Isn't it your responsibility to either renegotiate the rent to an appropriate value, or to relocate the National Audit Office to a location where it will pay market value (if it currently isn't)? You've certainly been in government long enough (8 of the 11 years you say this has been happening for) to do something about it. Why haven't you done anything about it?

Your "crystal clear" facts are as clear as the Wilsons River in flood.

But hold on, there's another letter to the editor on the opposite page to yours with similar ramblings. No surely not, Mr Causley, do you go by the alias of G Wallace of South Lismore? It certainly could explain a lot.

Barry Garland
Richmond Hill

• Lismore Council candidate

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Depressing thought

Our district and indeed the whole nation is in the grips of a epidemic. It is neither chicken influenza, nor golden staphylococcus, nor is it carried by a known agent such as a virus or bacteria. Our epidemic is psychological, our epidemic is depression.

This problem cannot be solved with pills or medication or drug dependency of any sort.

We can only address this problem by the development innovative 'grass roots inspired' projects which integrating private, co-operative, government and university resources to bring about a high employment economy. This is the only path that offers hope.

Farm forestry, tea-tree and medicinal plant production, hemp fibre and textile industries, and alternate energy could all be the mainstay of a new economy.

As you cast your ballot at the up coming council election, ask yourself, have the individuals for whom I'm voting addressed these topics?

Have they got the spirit and determination to lead us to a new high employment economy? Are they merely office bearers, timeservers or are they driven by a vision of a better world and a better life for all? Ask yourself - do they offer you hope?

Laurence Axtens
North Lismore

• Lismore Council candidate

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Busy meetings

Observers at last week's Lismore Council meeting, would have noted a not-so-subtle change as councillors standing for re-election on March 27, were keen to score a parting free kick to boost their chances.

Urgency motions, motions on notices and speeches couched in questions highlighted the reason why state and federal governments dissolve their deliberations once an election is called.

This council is now in caretaker mode and should not be initiating major decisions, yet we have seen a flurry of activity in the last two meetings. The worst of these decisions will see the commencement of the demolition of the Memorial Baths just three days before the election.

While last night's meeting occasionally descended into farce, it was pleasing to see the warmth and generosity in the farewell words offered by some councillors to departing Crs Gallen and Roberts. Their own responses highlighted their appreciation of the honour Lismore voters have bestowed on them over so many years.

Here's hoping the new councillors also appreciate that honour and respect the whole community and not just those who elect them.

Jenny Dowell
Goonellabah

• Lismore Council candidate

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Not much

It seems that it's true that we are never too old to learn. Having attended a Queensland State School from 1930 to 1940 I learned quite a bit of the English language and thereafter quite a bit more, but now I am learning that many of the words and phrases that I use are becoming redundant.

For instance, mostly, usually, generally almost, just about, approximately and many more I can't remember at the moment, are being replaced with yet another Americanism, "pretty much"

There is a whole lot more I could write, about how my understanding of the language is being continually changed, such as, for instance, "is", followed by a plural, instead of "are". There are many things, (not there is), as I hear continually on radio, even from ABC presenters, that make me cringe.

That's about all I want to comment on at this time. Sorry I mean that's "pretty much it".

Doug Myler
Lismore Heights

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Chicken pox

Here at Mongogarie Road we are dreading the commencement of the operation of the Sunnybrand chicken farm now being erected near us: namely the intensive transport of chickens to and from the factory type operation at eight week intervals between the hours of 10pm and dawn on a narrow road fit only for local traffic.

I would hope that voters would be aware of the influx of these chicken developments in our area, and the current Council's lack of interest in community concerns about the adverse effects of these factories. They all, except for one Councillor who supported our concerns, deserve to be chucked out on their ears. Here's hoping.

One Councillor scoffed at my concerns expressed at a Council meeting where the decision to approve the development was made. What a pity these chicken transports can't detour down their road in the middle of the night.

I have spoken to a number of persons whose lives have been affected by the operation of these chicken factories, such as excessive tractor noise in sheds being cleaned out, the siting of the developments at the closest proximity to other residents as is legally allowed (despite the availability of other land further from neighbours), offensive odour incurred in the removal of chicken manure from site. Sunnybrand's suggestion for this is to advise residents when removal is to occur so that they may close windows, doors etc, suggesting that some people may have become prisoners in their own homes because of Sunnybrand operations.

Intensive chicken farming is detrimental to humans and the environment, and cruel to the birds who are deprived of sleep through the manipulation of lights in the night-time to get them to over-eat, and they are housed by thousands in metal sheds. Additionally, antibiotics remain in their systems and the by-product toxins are not excreted. The intensive farming of animals is unhealthy, inhumane and unethical. It is against nature and all that is decent.

What is the Council doing to alleviate the plight of residents affected by chicken farms? All they seem interested in is so-called "development" approval.

I might point out to them that development is not a synonym for progress, and intensive chicken farming only benefits a few, compared to the distress it causes for many.

Cherie Imlah
Mongogarie

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Nothing personal

Ros Irwin's letter (Echo, Mar 11) is just another one of an avalanche of letters written by this very bitter person who has never come to terms with the fact that the last Council elections are a democratic process which gave us six very intelligent and capable Councillors who she has labelled s the "6 Pack'.

At the Meet the Candidates meeting before the last Council Elections, Ros Irwin told the audience that the elections would be a referendum on the pool. Had she kept her word, the pool would have been built for $4.5 million and been in use for 2 or 3 years.

Thanks to her and the "Sandwich Short of a Picnic Pack" the cost is now $7.75 million and the fist sod is about to be turned. When she was mayor the Skyline Road project was passed for about $600,000. She lost the mayoral election and her recession motions began to flow. The road is still not done and the cost has almost trebled. Councillor Irwin has continually mentioned the need for open and accountable governing.

She was the chair of the 2002 Herb Festival. That committee were given $63,000 in public funding. Lismore Unlimited gave $28,000, the Council $20,000 and the State Government $15,000. At the annual meeting of Lismore Unlimited, I asked to see a financial report for the Herb Festival. No report had been done or has been made public.

The herb growers would be far better exhibiting their products at the North Coast National (Lismore Show), which is where the region's agricultural and horticultural products are shown.

I wonder how many of the unemployed, unwashed brigade who attended the Herb Festival would have paid the entrance fee to attend a truly wonderful family event?

My understanding is that the Festival Committee ended up with $15,000 in the bank. A disgraceful squandering of $48,000 of ratepayers' and taxpayers' money on an event which did nothing to promote Lismore except to provide a few hippies with a halfway house between Nimbin and Byron Bay.

If Ros Irwin and her committee could make this sort of mess of $63,000 over a weekend, the thought of giving her crew control of Council's $60 million budge over 12 months would terrify most residents.

As a comparison the Lismore Cup draws a crowd of 10,000 who pay a $20 entrance fee. The whole town is booked out at no cost to Council. The camping and 4WD show also draws about 10,000 people here over a weekend, receives no financial help from council and gave $75,000 to the Westpac Helicopter.

These are examples of what can be achieved when competent experienced groups with a fair amount of economic ability run events.

The Koala Plan of Management is another very clear case of the legal and economic nous of the '6 Pack'.

Cr Irwin has referred to a unanimous decision by the KPOM advisory committee. This is not correct because Cr Suffolk and I both voted against it being recommended to council.

When council voted on the KPOM plan, the 'six pack' were well aware of the deceit and hysteria which had taken place at the KPOM Committee meetings and the compensation being offered to land owners would break the Council. The $7.75m for the swimming pool would be pocket money by comparison. There are many questions to be answered on her past deeds and future plans.

Cr Irwin must be eternally grateful that there is a provision for recision motions in Local Government. Without them her contribution to this Council would have been minimal.

I challenge Cr Irwin to a public debate at a time and venue of her choice providing it is held before the election and 24 hours is given for advertising purposes.

John Barnes
North Lismore

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