What’s that smell? It’s the first whiff of an upcoming election, and residents are to get free parking!
While Mayor Michael Lyon has managed to keep his election promise of free locals parking, staff were unsupportive of losing $1m of expected earnings, which is in the context of an already precarious financial position.
So let the local political campaigning begin!
The first to announce their intention to run for the September election is Greens councillor, Sarah Ndiaye. She wants to be mayor, and presents an all-woman team (see page 9). Cr Ndiaye’s team could, if elected, inject much-needed energy and a different perspective from what is happening now.
But buckle in peeps – the following comments will be uncomfortable for rusted-on Greens voters.
The Echo looks forward to seeing what policy vision is articulated by Cr Ndiaye in the coming months, notwithstanding that she has been in the job for over seven years now.
In those seven long years, it’s unclear what she has achieved.
And the same really applies to the entire councillor majority.
Where’s the reform?
Where’s the reform? Whose interests do they represent?
The pandemic and floods have no doubt changed the demographics for the area. And a fractured community is easy to govern, as any military strategist will tell you.
So when it comes to September, and the same faces ask for your vote, here’s a few things to consider:
Cr Lyon, Swivel, Pugh and Hunter are the most conservative lot in the room. They understand the importance of not upsetting the well-paid executive staff, upon whom they rely heavily.
As we have seen over the past two years, they protect them from scrutiny, and put their interests over the community.
If that’s your bag, then fine.
But don’t be fooled into thinking they are interested in environmental issues or transparency.
No doubt, the 2024 election issues will be centred around housing, yet all those seeking election need to explain the nuance of how this area can maintain the diminishing high biodiversity.
Most people in this area actually care about such things.
And how will the failing and ageing infrastructure keep up?
At Thursday’s meeting, the mayor burst into a Yes Minister/Utopia script while explaining that the Mullum hospital site plans have infrastructure plans rolling out concurrently.
‘We have an infrastructure plan!’ he said. So can we see it?
‘Well, no. It’s being developed.’
There is a reasonable question as to whether that valuable asset should be retained instead of flogged off to recoup $6m in demolition costs. As the site was used as a public hospital for decades, should speculating developers be able to make a motser from it?
Longtime residents are well aware that decades ago, Byron’s lack of sewerage capacity paused development. In times of extreme weather, water security is foremost.
And is floodplain development a smart way forward? At least an election is a good opportunity for change. It may result in a Council that cares for those who live here, instead of pleasing state government demands and acting like tinpot tyrants.
Hans Lovejoy, editor
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. 
