Tom Tabart, Bangalow
Clearly stung by the 4 Corners report on dastardly deeds in the NSW waste disposal industry, Byron Council posted an article in the 16 Aug issue of the Echo. As a long-time exploiter of the discredited ‘dump it in Queensland’ rubbish-running scam they were feeling the heat.
They hastened to assure us that they only used ‘really nice’ dumps and then boasted about how much money they had saved.
A little research quickly revealed that the Ipswich recipients of our garbage did not share Byron’s cosy views and in fact had been vigorously opposing this dumping for many years – especially the burning New Chum operation shown on 4 Corners.
Of course I then expected a swift comment from our environmentally-aware, ‘green’ council through our crusading mayor. But nothing…
Accordingly I fronted the council meeting on the 24th and gave a dissertation on the evils of cross-border, rubbish-running suggesting that now the facts had become public they had a duty to formulate a policy on how they intended to deal with the issue, “if they condone it they should own it”.
Needing to give more information than the allowed 2 minutes afforded I awaited questions but was cut off by the mayor who believes (totally contrary to the Council Rules of Meeting Practice Schedule A) that questions are not permitted on submissions. The GM remained silent, presumably he didn’t know the rules either.
Meanwhile I live in hope that some councillor will be moved to address our rubbish bootlegging.
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. 
