Firstly, regarding their notion that there had been adequate, “input from community members of the … sunset committee”. I question this as the initial committee was comprised of only four councillors, two reps from the Chamber of Commerce and one community rep. As the council only advertised once (March 26, 2013) for a community rep, it is not surprising that no one volunteered, thus a sole rep ended up being appointed. 

At no point within the committee process was the public (including the retail sector) informed as to what was going on. 

In September 2013, the committee passed a motion to recommend the TCRP to the council. Unfortunately, there were only three members present on that auspicious day (including the one community rep) but not enough I would have thought to form a quorum. Nonetheless, the recommendation to accept the TCRP was carried.

Furthermore, I question the McKee’s assertion that the council “undertook a professional approach”. On June 25, 2014, when the plan was carried, three councillors voted against the committee’s recommendation, one abstained and four voted for it, not counting the mayor. 

However, the outcome would have been very different, if two rather than just one of the councillors had decided not to vote owing to a perceived pecuniary interest. 

In the final analysis though, it can be seen that with three committee reps (one being a councillor) and four councillors voting for the plan, a mere seven people in total were, and are, responsible for the decision to have a TCRP.

I would also like to correct the assumption that only a minority stand between the council and the TCRP. With about 2400 names on petitions and with only 4000 households in Inverell, I would suggest that such a number indicates a sizeable degree of disquiet. Moreover, I refute the inference that opponents of the TCRP are against any improvement and maintenance. 

Most people recognize as I do, that some development needs to occur, but at the expense of the London Plane trees, which provide so much beauty? To discard them as if they are a passé fashion that is no longer seen as cool, especially now that median strips are regarded as de rigor in towns across the Gywdir Highway? 

Finally, I would argue that most residents would like “to keep our town a great environment”.  

Many of us though, believe that our opinions have not been sought or valued. The council has been entreated to take the plan to a further community consultation, which they have chosen to ignore. Without broad community approval though, I would argue that the efficacy of the plan can and has been called into question.

Caroline Wilson

(Chairperson of CIRA)