Richard W Murray, Tweed Heads
Tweed Shire Council is seeking unnecessary conflict with residents, particularly at Tweed Heads, where council staff members have been directed to facilitate matters that Tweed Heads residents do not want.
I am referring to the closure and the proposed non-repair of the Anchorage Island Boardwalk and a councillor’s lobbying for an Aquatic Fun park in the Jack Evans Boat Harbour.
Council has again taken on new adversaries. They are long-term residents, retirees, some wealthy and others just struggling to retain the lifestyle they spent their hard-earned savings, when they moved to Tweed Heads.
Many are former professionals, they are on body corporates, can mobilise other technically smart operators and form community groups. If necessary, they can seek to fund court challenges.
In the above matters, Council has not obtained adequate community consultation for a necessary Plan of Management for Jack Evans Boat Harbour to enable Tweed councillors to make appropriate planning decisions.
Nor has it responded in a timely manner to the numerous community concerns about the closure and the proposed non-repair of the Anchorage Island Boardwalk.
Until appropriate and adequate council consultation is done, Tweed residents need to understand any developer can build anything without an approved Plan, or Tweed residents could lose a much-valued boardwalk.
Also our much-used Boardwalk that has been valued highly by residents and tourists for the past 25 years remains seriously under threat.
Tweed Heads is more than just buildings or a questionable development; our town should express the spirit of its residents. Amenity and sustainability for its residents and visitors should be the guiding factor.
While some inappropriate developments can mean employment for some, it may not necessarily help the Tweed unemployed. In the meantime Council has caused unnecessary concern for our community needs.
The forthcoming council election on the 29th October will provide a chance for council candidates to promote their policies that could provide a remedy for Tweed Heads resident concerns.
I am asking those interested, to request Tweed Shire Council to repair our much used Anchorage Island Boardwalk, instead of spending $70,000 to demolish it. While little funds remain for the repairs for this previous work for the dole project, I hope that council would seek further funding to save our Boardwalk which has now been closed for public use.
A petition of 200 signatures requesting repair of our boardwalk will be presented to our next meeting of councillors.
