We need to get some new blood on our council desperately. What we have at the moment are just not suitable to be in control of the huge budget they have at their fingertips.
I think they should all be independent of political parties and the Tweed Shire be divided into wards. This works very well in other parts of our country and could do the same here. Surely there are some good citizens concerned enough to put up their hands, especially in the Tweed area itself. It is so out of balance to have these bushies in control, when most of the people live in Tweed itself and surrounding suburbs.
To emphasise my point, the people of Bilambil Heights have been waiting since 1997 for a roundabout at the top of the hill and lots of cars have gone over the side in scenic drive and Bilambil Road. But all our money is spent in Kingscliff and Murwillumbah.
Another thing that should be considered is moving the council administration block to Tweed Heads where it should be.
This way we won’t have to double up on everything and a huge amount of money could be saved. At the same time we should set up guidelines as to who can be eligible to serve as a councillor. Say, if your husband is a developer doing a large estate, then you should not be on the council and, if you are only there to collect donations to your political party, then you have no right to be there either.
The Tweed Valley is a beautiful place and, if we had some people with vision, it could be so much better.
Take a look at the lakes when the tide is out. It is so sad, as this silted up backwater could be a boaties’ paradise. I am sure that, if this potential gem was in Japan or America, then it would have been developed for tourism long before this.
I was told by a friend recently, if this was to happen, councillors might have to give up their free oysters.
Bernie O’Brien
Banora Point
