Thursday 17 April 2008

Rats in the ranks of Clarence Valley Council or how to scuttle a North Coast affordable housing scheme

On 15 April the Senate Select Committee into Affordable Housing was on the NSW North Coast at Ballina listening to local concerns.
On the same day Clarence Valley Council voted to sink its own plan to enter into an affordable housing scheme, which it had been investigating and progressing for the last 18 months or so.
 
It seems that with Mayor Ian Tiley absent from the ordinary monthly meeting, those four very rightwing councillors present decided to vote for the longterm benefit of local commercial interests.
In this they went against both council committee and council officer recommendations, in one of the meanest Nationals-inspired paybacks I have witnessed for quite a while. 
 
Their shortsighted approach to the housing crisis was characterised by yesterday's The Daily Examiner editorial as Housing decision beggars belief.
A sentiment I'm sure that most of the Valley agrees with.

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