Early in July, I sent an email to the mayor and councillors in regard to the behaviour of security personnel employed by Clarence Property at Wallum.
I informed the mayor and councillors that since Clarence Property appointed a new security consultant there had been a distinct change, and the attitude of personnel was, in my opinion, far more menacing. I also reminded them there had been a letter in The Echo a week before my email complaining of security staff heckling local residents on Bayside streets, making them feel unsafe.
I stated that on June 26, security personnel dressed all in black, wearing balaclavas, with their faces and ID tags obscured, made a pre-dawn raid at the camp site in Wallum. It was an unacceptable scene; one we do not expect to see in Australia.
The security staff on that occasion removed the Aboriginal flag, removed the welcome tent and fenced off the turning circle at the end of Omega Ct. If nothing else surely this construction work outside hours is not allowed by Council.
Save Wallum knew that more action was planned by security and I requested councillors to call out any thuggish behaviour before it was repeated. I described it as urgent, as people’s safety was at risk. I also made it clear that there are photos and videos showing security staff were not compliant to what I’d consider acceptable standards of behaviour.
I pointed out that people have a legal right to peacefully protest and referenced The Echo’s report of the 5am raid, in which it quotes DCI Matt Kehoe of the Tweed Byron Police as saying, ‘I think the protesters have been compliant and respectful’.
I asked Council to step up to ensure people are not subjected to intimidation and undue force. I said Council needs to make it clear to Clarence Property that security staff must adhere to the law and to Council by-laws.
I also asked the mayor and councillors to reply to my email stating whether they condoned the intimidatory actions of security staff and whether they were willing to take action to ensure the safety of people in Byron Shire.
And I told them to note that I will be making each reply – or absence of a reply – public.
So here goes. The only reply I received was from Cr Duncan Dey. He thanked me for emailing councillors about this matter and stated clearly that he did not condone the intimidatory actions of security staff. He also said he was looking at what action he could take on this, to ensure people’s safety.
It could be argued that busy councillors don’t have time to read all their emails, however, I know the mayor read my email because he acknowledged it on social media and claimed he was not ignoring me but I have not heard from him since.
Disappointingly, in fact, reprehensibly, the mayor brushed it off. I now know, after reading Tom Nursey’s letter in The Echo last week, that he was well aware of what I would call thuggish behaviour and had in fact seen photographic evidence but chose to turn a blind eye. Ironically, the mayor is campaigning for the upcoming elections on a claim of being accountable – clearly, he is not. He shows complete disregard.
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. 
