A delegation from the community welcomed back Tweed mayor Katie Milne at the last council planning meeting.
She graciously accepted gifts of a rare endangered orchid plant, exotic fruit from Tropical Fruit World and a hand-made artisan beanie crafted by a local artist.
Cr Milne had been absent for the previous three months due to health reasons and there were fears that she would never return.
A similar gift was also presented to Cr Gary Bagnall (deputy mayor) acknowledging his work standing in her place during that time.
Cr Milne’s relentless stand for sustainability and community wishes caused several motions seeking to overdevelop the foreshore with obscene Gold-Coast style fun parks that would intrude on local residents’ need for peace and quiet to fail.
She also made an impassioned plea for a cat prohibition at Cobaki Lakes estate due to the concept plan based on a no-cat policy, approved by state government, affirming it to be a very significant and sensitive area with a local population of endangered potoroos.
The concept plan has environmental corridors and appropriate fencing to protect native fauna. This passed thanks to the supporting votes from Crs Bagnall and Barry Longland.
Cr Phil Youngblutt opined that there is absolutely no threat to the environment from domestic cats, only feral cats.
Where does he think feral cats come from if not rejected domesticated cats?
Both Crs Warren Polglase and CarolynByrne argued for the importance of the relationship between humans and domesticated pets and that council only had to promote responsible pet ownership because it would be impossible to police roaming cats.
Cr Bagnall argued against cats because with 10,000 houses , each permitted to have two cats, what chance would wildlife have?
Australia has 18 million cats which kill 100,000 native animals per night.
Having a no-cat policy to begin with would greatly minimise the very real threat and cited the success of Koala Beach.
Cr Milne has always been a voice for our endangered native animals and the environment and she has been sorely missed.
Come the September council elections, may there be more like-minded candidates elected, ones who truly care about the environment/community wishes and may the old guard retire to the neanderthal caves from which they came.
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. 
