Ron Cooper, Kingscliff
The results are in. The people have spoken. Tweed Shire Council planners’ attempt to smuggle four, five and six storey buildings into Kingscliff has been exposed and comprehensively rejected.
I want to thank all those 5,500 good people who have taken the time to sign the Our490 Heights of Buildings Petition – mothers balancing a child on one arm and signing with the other – fathers attending to the demands of their children in the park determined still to sign – shoppers prepared to put down their bags of groceries to join in – people hurrying to appointments but still making time to be part of the campaign – workers balancing their take-away coffees helping the cause – groups of friends in conversation putting up with my butting in, eager to participate – runners breaking stride, bikers slamming on brakes just to support this petition. And a special mention to the elderly balancing the folder on their walkers or just making the extra effort it takes to be part of it all.
You have all made my experience very rewarding. We have had conversations about your experience of Kingscliff as a long term resident or as a regular visitor. You have come from distant places and distant lands and are all impressed by Kingscliff as it is. You have told me about coastal villages that have lost their charm to creeping high-rises. Too often for comfort you have speculated about money driving this unwanted change and overriding the community’s democratic right to have their views properly represented.
There are others helping me with this campaign including my wife Marg. I thank them all and assure them that I won’t be giving up any time soon. I am aiming for 10,000 signatures.
I hope you can all experience the euphoria when Kingscliff is finally saved.
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. 
