Andrew Bennett, Murwillumbah.
Dear Councilor Allsop,
We were so impressed after your inaugural speech to the people of the Tweed stating your commitment to the environment and eco-tourism.
It is very difficult to understand how quickly you have changed when voting against what is the most important issue to face all of us, water sustainability and the effects on the environment from water mining.
You attended the Uki meeting and heard a range of people speak including experts in hydrology, a heavy vehicle operator and many locals who will be affected by this insidious form of water resource exploitation.
Uki has become an eco-tourism destination, you could not have walked away from that meeting without a feeling of having to support your own commitment to the protection of our environment and your professed passion for eco-tourism.
We feel the science you are looking for to support commercial water mining does not exist. An international study released by NASA showing declines in groundwater resources globally should alert us to the pressing need to manage groundwater resources sustainably. Australia is not immune to the challenges posed from declining groundwater resources.
Please reconsider your position when next voting or publicly speaking in regards to this vitally important issue.
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. 
