Michele Grant, Ocean Shores, member Byron Greens since 1997
The dreadful rift between ‘the old guard’ who established the Byron Greens and the latest batch of Councillors is laid bare for all to see in the letters from Tom Tabart (2 & 16/6) and Sarah Ndiaye and Co (9/6).
For many Greens members, Tom Tabart is regarded as the highly esteemed ‘father’ of our local Green groups. He was the driving force that established Byron, Tweed and Ballina branches, and provided financial and logistic support to Summerland Greens.
It was Tom’s energy and exuberance, his strategic planning and organisational skills, and his friendly, non-judgemental personality that roped in a widely diverse bunch of highly opinionated people and kept them focused on our common goal – to be a vital, vibrant political force in our community and Australian politics.
Over two decades, Tom and those hard-working office bearers and community activists and supporters, turned a predominantly Country Party stronghold Green.
It’s an incredible achievement, and it’s appalling to see Tom’s reputation besmirched by ignorant new members who have no idea of the debt they owe, or the respect that’s due, to those who came before them.
Unfortunately, the new guard under Simon Richardson’s helm, failed to uphold the most basic fundamental green principles – protecting the environment and supporting the community.
Our activist community was dismissed as ‘squeaky wheels’ and rudely ignored by the new Councillors. Consultation was reserved for hand-picked committees who wouldn’t upset anyone.
Our mayor wanted to make friends with the developers and government honchos, and get inside the tent with the big boys. Simon believed he’d achieve more working with them, rather than by supporting the community opposing them.
We can see the dreadful legacy of this choice sprawled across the community; brash, bulky buildings breaching established planning rules and setting new precedents – like the boarding house in Bayside Brunswick – his parting gift.
The Greens brand has been badly, and possibly irrevocably, damaged, and the lineup for the new Council promises more of the same with Sarah Ndiaye leading the pack.
Greens members should be appalled. We can do so much better than this motley crew!
Only Ian Cohen, placed last on the Greens ticket, has any credibility at all, and Matthew O’Reilly is the new best thing going, with a giant brain, a new development application in the pipeline, and an exhaustive interest in Council business. So check out the candidates before you vote.
History will long remember Tom Tabart, Jan Barham and Ian Cohen’s contribution to green politics, but no one will recall this last bunch of Councillors as anything other than a miserable setback for green politics in Byron Shire.
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. 
