Genuinely green?

Sally Newham, Nimbin

I have just written to Tamara Smith MP regarding the concerns outlined by Jan Barham in the 7 Aug 7 Byron Echo re the question of whether subtropical rainforest lies in the path of the planned bypass destruction.

I hope that my voice and others will help these concerns get heard and heeded. To be clear, I am opposed to any project that would destroy protected wetland and the habitat of an endangered species (thanks to the broken Orwellian policy of ‘biobanking’), whether there is rainforest there or not.

As a bit of an ill-informed bystander from Lismore LGA, I’m confused by the situation in Byron. Surely there is some way to run the bypass that does not involve this level of ecological destruction?

Isn’t this one of those situations when a genuinely green council would be doing the tough work of prioritising the protection of precious ecology and biodiversity, and actively listening to and working collaboratively with long-respected ecological ‘elders’ of our community such as David Milledge, Jan Barham, Dailan Pugh, and others?

Byron Shire, and our broader area, has a larger role to play here in terms of leadership. We can’t underestimate the role we play as examples of hope and inspiration for the rest of the country, if not the world, with regard to ecological respect and environmental protection. This isn’t just an Instagram image; it’s a meaningful history and an important role we play as a community. If we can’t do it here, then what does that say to the rest of our country and world?

I hope that the spirit of peace and inner work that Byron is genuinely known for will prevail and provide a means for people who are serious about protecting our local ecology to be heard and respected and worked with meaningfully and successfully for the sake of the non-humans we share this wondrous place with, and without whom it would not be a wondrous place at all.