Tweed shire Cr Barry Longland claims the new automatic gate at Black Rocks will satisfy koala protection needs. But look at his voting history when it comes to protecting these koalas.
In January 2015 he moved to replace the koala protection gate with a grid (against the advice of Dr Steve Phillips, who told him that if he must remove the gate at least construct a grid, but ideally a gate and a grid). Barry also voted against consulting with the community about removing the gate.
In May 2015 he voted to change January’s minutes retrospectively to include a koala population count required by the state Office of Environment and Heritage with his gate removal motion. He also voted against deferral of the Men’s Shed till this count was done – it never was. May 2015 was a terrible month for poor Black Rocks koalas!
Ironically in October 2015 he voted against mayor Katie Milne’s motion for automatic gates, just six months ago. How this man changes his mind!
In December 2015 he voted to approve a DA for a Men’s Shed at Black Rocks (Item #666) and voted against deferring to examine a Noise Impact Study on koalas due the following month.
In March 2016 he moved for a survey of Pottsville residents asking if they wanted the sports field or revegetation and was prepared to remove the grid option.
In April 2016 he backflipped on his survey of (postcode) 2489 residents– since he already knew what they wanted and staff recommended against it. So finally, finally, he agreed on an automatic gate.
How much has it cost ratepayers for all the staff reports as he backflipped on grid/no grid, survey/no survey, automatic gate/no gate, we will never know.
Nor will we ever know if those six Black Rocks koalas who died from stress-related disease in the past two years might still be alive had Crs Longland, and his three National Party amigos Crs Carolyn Byrne, Phil Youngblutt and Warren Polglase, followed the advice of the Koala Advisory Committee to keep the gates closed 24/7 in April 2014 (as at Barry Shephard sports oval).
Perhaps when Barry is voted out of council this September he will try for the Olympics?
Menkit Prince, Uki
For four decades The Echo has printed the stories some people loved, some people hated, and some pretended not to read. If you want us to keep telling the truth, the real truth, not the sugar-coated version. We’ll need your support to keep the presses rolling. 
