It was disappointing to read yet another set of articles in The Echo attacking Byron Council for trying to take action on housing people in our Shire. I was proud to move the motion at our last meeting putting the Station Street affordable housing proposal out to tender. I understand that car parks are important, but too often our car parks are now being used as places to sleep for those that don’t have a home. Is it too much to ask that we build real homes for these people instead? We have the highest number of rough sleepers of any shire in NSW. We are in a housing emergency. We need to take action.
I am getting used to some very strange and confused accusations coming from The Echo, not least those being made in last week’s edition sprawled across page 3. It seems strange to make accusations of secrecy when the information being discussed was reported publicly on the very next page! It’s worth noting that The Echo never actually asked me for any information. Had they, I would have done my best to provide as much as I could.
For some reason it was my photo and demands of accountability from me when I never moved any motion to move into a confidential session. I would have been happy to discuss it publicly. I had carriage of the agenda item during the meeting simply because I had called it in order to get some questions answered. I was particularly interested in ensuring that the Council maintained some real assets as part of any project, some real assets for the community into the future. All details that I would be happy to talk to The Echo or any community member about.
It is worth noting that even The Echo’s appointed hero of transparency, Councillor Dey, voted to move into confidential session (along with every other councillor present). I look forward to seeing his face also sprawled across page 3 with similar accusations and demands.
Let’s get real about the devastating housing situation that we face in our community. It’s not easy to get these projects off the ground and built, and councillors are doing their best to respond to the housing crisis.
Byron councillor Asren Pugh, Byron Bay
Editor, Hans Lovejoy, has responded to this letter in his editorial.
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. 
