Greens great expectations

Ian Cohen, Broken Head

I waited with great anticipation for the response to my article (Echo July 10). I feel that I reflected the concerns of many in the community. Further I felt I had a duty as one who assisted in the election of the current council to speak out. What arrived two weeks later hardly fills me with confidence. A dissertation on how well the current Greens councillors are doing on some issues is understandable.

I had simply raised a number of issues and I have not received clear answers. This obfuscation, not unlike Parliamentary Question Time whereby the minister waffles on until rescued by a staff note isn’t the way to go.

I am asking a few simple questions. Did Greens councillors initiate biobanking or did staff pursue biobanking under delegated authority?

Regarding the Byron bypass, will councillors take the precautionary approach and have another look at the status of the rainforest in question and the presence of critically endangered species?

Do current Greens councillors stand by the treatment of Butler Street residents in the previous court case and during a recent Council meeting?

Exactly what is intended by the mayoral minute to go ‘above and beyond protection requirements’ during the bypass construction?

Will Greens councillors agree to an independent assessment of the bypass route?

Is the Mercato development in Byron still supported as ‘best green practice’ including the installation of back-lit signage?

Do Greens councillors still defend the Ewingsdale roundabout ‘art’ installation? Do they consider the costs, currently and in the future, to be reasonable?

This is a small sample of the questions being asked in the community. The community deserves clear answers as a first step toward constructive solutions. If this does not ring true for the current Greens councillors perhaps you should test the waters and run as an independent team at next year’s elections.