Councillor being related to a developer involved in a current DA. Council staff acting on behalf of the developer in the acquisition of land necessary for the developer to commence, on the grounds of safety for the community.
Byron Shire Council seems to be moving further and further away from consultation and transparency.
Seems the cone of silence is being implemented more and more in one way or another – nothing transparent about that.
Byron Shire Council has an independent audit committee; the elected Council selects two councillors to sit on the audit committee. The last two representatives were Mr Swivel and Mr Hunter as Council’s representatives. Mr Hunter attempted to gain information on the five-year contract awarded to an outside company to inspect and reline the Mullumbimby sewer gravity mains. Mr Hunter received very little cooperation from staff when he asked for information about what had been achieved as to relining the gravity mains over the five years. Mr Hunter attempted to get support to have an outside auditor bought in to investigate but received no support from the audit committee. This continues to be a question that Council staff cannot answer or supply visible evidence of work completed.
Again the mayor mentioned Council’s financial position, maybe it is time that Byron Shire Council was audited as to structure, costs, and performance.
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. 
