Who will be your next Tweed Shire councillors? Well that is up to you when you vote in the 4 December local council elections. The Echo online has sent out a series of questions covering issues from affordable housing, holiday letting and development to the rail trail, water mining and the climate emergency to all the candidate groups who have put their hands up to represent you.
Remember that Tweed does not have a popularly elected Mayor, instead, the elected councillors elect a Mayor every two years.
The first group to get back to The Echo online was Group C led by Peter Cumming, from Eungella. Peter is the Director of the company Urban Systems Pty Ltd that provides town, regional, and infrastructure planning. He is running with Bob Wallis from Hastings Point, Meg Houghton from Duranbah, and Greg O’Connor from Murwillumbah. Peter has responded to the questions on behalf of his team.
To find out about other candidates running in the Tweed Shire Council elections click here.
Candidate Questions
If you and your team members are not incumbent (were not on the previous council) what specifically would you propose to change?
Create a more unified and positive Council. We have a great future – let’s be positive about it!
As an experienced town and regional planner, better town and village environments.
What are the key opportunities you would pursue as a councillor?
- Development to occur on Tweed community terms.
- No high rise. We are absolutely different to the Gold Coast, which just can’t stop!
- Streetscape improvements in our towns and villages. Boulevarding Minjungbal Drive in Tweed Heads is a first priority. It’s currently a disgrace.
- Working with the rural community for conservation works on creeks and rivers e.g. Limited development rights for conservation works. Win/wins.
- Eco-tourism – developing the food, crafts, arts and recreation industries. Pedestrian/bike/e-bike links from the rail-trail to the coast and national parks.
- A strong works program for road improvements.
Short Term Holiday Letting
What is your view on the new Short-Term Holiday Letting (STHL) rental legislation allowing any residential building in the Shire to be let on a short-term basis ie holiday, Airbnb etc?
- Holiday letting lets families spend time at the beach or on a rural property. It should not be banned but it should be limited to holiday periods at beach locations and party noise should be strictly controlled. Body corporates should be able to control letting in unit situations.
Do you think STHL should be allowed 320 days a year or limited to a fewer number of days? If yes, how many days do you think that should be?
- No. Holiday periods only at beach locations.
Do you think STHL should be allowed 320 days a year or limited to a fewer number of days? If yes, how many days do you think that should be?
Didn’t answer
How do you intend to impact homelessness in the Tweed?
Options include: subsidised rental; halfway houses to get people on their feet; allocation of a proportion of caravan park accommodation for low-income residents.
Water
Do you support the commercial extraction of groundwater (eg for water bottling) in Tweed Shire?
Only where environmental and road impacts can be strictly controlled and minimised.
Do you think that commercial extraction should allow existing water licences to remain as the status quo, allow an increase in water extraction, or pursue a reduction and elimination of commercial water extraction? Why?
Reduction and elimination where there are significant environmental and road impacts.
Development
What is your position on the maximum building height limit of 13.6m that applies to the majority of the shire?
Maintain height limits. No high rise in the Tweed.
Construction of the Tweed Valley Hospital required rezoning (by the State Government) of protected farmland. What is your position on the protection of the remaining State Significant Farmland. Why?
We should protect significant farmland. In the hospital case, however, we need to measure the benefits of the hospital against the value of agricultural productivity on the land ($700 million in community/health investment; several hundred jobs, local access to state of the art hospital facilities, education opportunities with the TAFE opposite – also on red soil).
Where do you stand on development in the Tweed, the need for growth and the balance with fabric and amenity, lifestyle, liveability and environment?
There is enough committed residential land for growth in the Tweed for the forseeable future – 20,000 people at Kings Forest and Cobaki.
Coastal communities across the country are being ‘loved to death’ – resulting in significant impacts on infrastructure (roads, traffic, services etc), housing availability and affordability. What are your strategies on mitigating the impacts in these areas?
Limiting residential expansion; maintaining separation between towns; providing more diverse housing – well designed units and small houses for younger and older people; traffic calming. But we can’t have it all ways. If we limit housing supply, house prices will go up.
Gold Coast Airport has an impact on Tweed ‘flight-path’ communities, with curfews regularly being tested. This will likely be exacerbated as the airport meets its growth targets. How would you work to mitigate this impact for the community?
Lobby for a tighter over-water flight path to avoid more residences on southbound take-off and landing.
Should developers be allowed variations on the DCP, LEP and other planning controls or should these policies be strictly enforced?
Variations on building heights or setbacks should be absolutely minimal. Variations in some cases e.g. for affordable housing where this is guaranteed, may be worthwhile considering.
Would you prioritise community and environment or development?
Community and environment with measured development on our terms.
Environment
Do you support Council’s Climate Emergency Declaration and strong action on reducing greenhouse gas emissions?
Yes. But we must start producing renewable energy in the Tweed to do our bit. Commitment to a solar/battery farm in the next Council term is part of our platform.
Do you support stronger policies and increased funding to protect Tweed’s internationally significant environment?
We already have very strong policies on removal of vegetation on farmland. Much more can be done, though, if we reward farmers with limited development rights for conservation works, particularly along streams and rivers and steep slopes. This is done in many European countries and works.
Do you support increased funding to protect Tweed’s internationally significant environment?
Didn’t answer
Do you support allowing forestry in private native forests?
Yes, if they are planted as native forests on farmland. This will help achieve net zero emissions of CO2 and hopefully provide jobs in a craft wood industry as has happened in Tasmania.
Rail
Do you support the Rail Trail, mutli-modal line or a train line? Why?
It was a great pity that train services were stopped, but I strongly support the rail trail and bike/pedestrian connections to the coast and national parks now that the rail has closed. Repurposing old unused rail infrastructures for pedestrians/cyclist and small e-vehicles is happening worldwide. The Brisbane rail trail and the Northeast Victoria rail trail are two very successful Australian examples. If a light rail option proves feasible on this route, then the alignment will be preserved for it.
Political party affiliation
Have you been, or are you, affiliated with any political parties? Please provide party name and membership period
I have never been a member of a political party and am totally independent as are all members of our team.
If yes, how much will you be influenced by your party policies and agendas?
NA
If the opportunity arose would you quit council to run for a state or federal seat?
No interest.
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