Letter to the Editor: Come have a Community Conversation

DEAR News Of The Area,

MidCoast Council’s Community Conversations have been, understandably, affected by the recent devastating flooding, and the clean-up effort that ensues.

Originally, the Tea Gardens Community Conversations were to be held back in late May, and have since been rescheduled for Tuesday 29 July.

In the wake of a few erroneous postings, I have personally confirmed with the General Manager of MidCoast Council that 29 July is the date, the time: 2:30-4pm.

I will, indeed, be attending as a duly elected MidCoast Councillor, as I have done so at the Bulahdelah, Wootton and Stroud Community Conversations so far.

I can say that the community turnout has not exactly been enormous, but there may be solid reasons.

Then again, it may just be a case of locals not being fully aware of what the Conversations are all about.

Put simply, this is the time for community members to speak face-to-face with key executive staff, as well as members of the elected body of Council – and it only happens twice a year.

I implore all residents of Hawks Nest, Tea Gardens, Pindimar, Bundabah, North Arm Cove and North Karuah to make their best efforts to attend this meeting, as the nearest was in Bulahdelah last month, which only garnered four locals total.

While I will continue to make myself available, and will respond to invitations (standing or new), the Conversations allow residents a much broader audience from Council’s hierarchy, and I hope dearly to see locals availing themselves of this encounter.

Sincerely,
Thomas O’KEEFE,
President of HNTGPA and MidCoast councillor.