I read with dismay about experienced architect David Brown, who has resigned from Council’s Affordable Housing Committee in frustration because his advice is being ignored.
Sadly, this is a story I am hearing over and over again from valuable members of our community who, in a volunteer capacity, put their hands up to offer their expertise and time to Council only to be treated in an offhand and contemptuous manner. They usually end up walking away in exasperation and disillusioned with the whole process. I know I have.
This is not the first time that the thought has occurred to me that the collective academic qualifications, knowledge, and years of experience of these unpaid ‘consultants’ would probably outweigh that of any councillor or staff member; yet their advice often goes unheeded. It’s a mystery to me. You would think that they would jump at the chance of not having to pay for an expert opinion.
There is also another factor that makes no sense. Increasingly, Council staff are not locals and do not live in the Shire and so you would think that any resident committee member would be an asset to them; be a conduit for ideas and a voice from Council out into the wider community? But, again, no.
This was my experience with the Natural Burial Ground project. No one would listen to the expert and free advice we had to offer; I have got five lots of outside consultants’ reports on file though.
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. 
