Bernard Hinchcliffe, Mullumbimby
I was talking to a friend re the dilemma of dobbing in people when it came to water restrictions and bed and breakfast places. I mentioned student X who goes to the local Council for work experience.
The manager puts X in front of a computer and instructs X to look up accommodation sites in the Byron Shire. X has to find the addresses and cross reference them to ratepayers addresses. If in a residential area, it’s illegal.
X is also asked to analyse the water rates. 160 litres per person per day is the average use. Two people, plus garden, is 480 litres per day. X is to report anything over that amount.
X is made to sign the official secrets act when it comes to sewage data. Data is collected from the black boxes which are located at most residential sewage junctions. If there are high readings of illegal substances, it is to be forward onto police.
So I said to my friend, if you see someone watering their garden at midnight, don’t worry.
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. 
