The continuing saga of...

Hi All,

Please see a letter that I sent over a week ago to the editor. It seems that the SHN these days is somewhat selective with the letters they print. Not like the good old days when peoples opinions were really valued. I continue to try, but it is difficult getting the message out there. The word on the grapevine is also that the Chambers of commerce and land sales interest groups have the ear of the manager of the paper. It has even been suggested that a minority of the Chambers are dictating what should appear on the front page of the paper. Not having the resources or contacts of the intersts groups is a real hurdle.

Given the serious nature of things to come, it would be good if somebody knows of a like minded person who would be interested in talking about a campaign manager for the community action team for the upcoming elections. It is also a good time to be getting an idea if anybody would eb interested in standing on a Community Action Ticket.If you have any ideas, please drop me a line.

I have a notice of motion going up to the meeting of the 27th February. IF SUCCESSFUL, IT WILL ALLOW cOUNCIL TO GO TO A REFERENDUM ON THE LEISURE CENTRE AND LAND SALES. It will be difficult. NCJ also ahs a motion which in itself is a claytons motion. Theya re obviously feeling teh heat and want to put up a smoke screen. I still think the numbers are against us. I would suggest that you encourage friends and family to lobby Clr Gordon Lewis, Jim Mauger and Duncan Gair heavily. This may be our only chance to put the brakes on the sale of public land.

More to come later.

Larry


Dear Sir,

Having been along to a number of Public Hearings in relation to the proposed sale of Public Land, I am only more convinced that this is a totally unacceptable action on Councils part. The message is loud and clear "leave our land alone". This is the legacy that not only previous Councils have put in place for future generations, it is also a legacy bequeathed by private and also developer gifts.

I stand strong on my commitment to fight to the end, the sale of public land. I will not give up or devalue the
Ideals of our community by ignoring their plea for caution and restraint on this matter.

We need to listen, not just give the appearance of listening. We need to actively process the message and
act accordingly. This is the reason why I believe that the only way to show sincerity to the community on this matter, is to go to the people. If any Councillors believes they can act from this point in defiance against the growing voice and calls for caution within the community on the Leisure Centre, then let them continue at their own peril.

Given our current financial dilemma, I am convinced we need to stop, take a breath and consult with the Community on their current thinking on the Leisure Centre. I am also convinced that we need to go to the community and test the feeling on the sale of public land. Although, it is beyond doubt in my mind that the majority of the community are totally opposed to the "flogging off" of our children's inheritance, I am also equally convinced (frighteningly so), that there are those Councillors who will in some strange way justify their own agenda's and ignore the majority.

Therefore the only way to test the theories of those Councillors who remain in denial is to go to a referendum. I believe anything other is deceptive and nothing more than a smoke screen. If those Councillors who feel they are right and the majority really do want to move forward with land sales and a Leisure Centre, then the referendum that I propose will do nothing more than support their arguments, if not, then surely they need to be mature enough to accept that they are wrong. I certainly am!

If the exercise of providing a facility that is indeed for everyone. Lets make sure that everyone actually wants it and agrees that now is the time to do so.

Faithfully yours,
Clr Larry Whipper