The most incomprehensible part of the councillors’ Kings Forest debate was the failure of the most significant amendment of the day, by such a slim margin of only 3–4, due to the lack of support by Cr Holdom and Cr van Lieshout.
This amendment number three proposed a whole review of the original Kings Forest Concept Plan in light of the current koala crisis.
The amendment also requested a no-dog ban, and for NSW Planning to apply the new controls of council’s yet-to-be-finalised Tweed Coast Koala Plan of Management.
For Cr Holdom, as the chair of the Koala Advisory Committee, to be one of the causes of this motion’s failing was shocking and inexplicable. It would have got up with a majority vote if not for her. Cr van Lieshout should also hang her head in shame.
I can’t imagine why these councillors voted as such but it is of great concern that council’s general manager has refused me access to councillors’ file notes on any councillor meetings with Leda. This is despite an automatic provision for distribution of councillors’ file notes to fellow councillors being a specific requirement of council’s code of conduct s9.9.
Cr Katie Milne, Carool
