First, Hans Lovejoy’s article ‘emergency wedged’ was educational, factual and provided valuable information to the community. Michele Grant’s letter (27 July) was emotive overgeneralisations in need of a little correction.
There is no ‘clamour’ or opposition to provision of emergency housing. There is widespread reasonable concern over filling a floodplain resulting in exacerbated flooding in surrounding streets and the town of Mullumbimby.
Further anger and opposition results from Resilience NSW and Byron Council giving no warning or consultation to the community. And NO, a handful of residents getting a letter three days before construction began is not transparency. It is a concern that Resilience NSW is given the power and authority to ignore and override any local regulations and policies.
Public housing is not ALWAYS seen as ramshackle etc. You don’t know who will reside in pods. We hope it will be displaced residents.
Your flood levels are faulty. Photographic evidence supports much higher flood levels than you claim.
How many ‘slick tourists’ do you know? If you consider Mullumbimby to be a rundown shantytown full of disreputable characters you should be ashamed to be supporting housing these traumatised flood-affected displaced persons here.
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. 
