Tweed mayor’s carbon neutral bid halted
TWEED Mayor Katie Milne’s bid to move beyond roads, rates and rubbish and towards emissions, pollution and conservation was fractured by councillor Ron Cooper last night.
Greens Mayor Milne, whose council collects $106 million in rates a year, put forward nine motions which
focused on making the shire more environmentally friendly.
The first to remove plastic packaging from the council’s operations was deferred by the mayor because it wasn’t quite ready and then the second was stifled by Cr Cooper.
The second motion was to commission a report into how the council could transition to becoming carbon neutral through buying carbon credits and planting forests.
Before spending ratepayers’ money on a report, Cr Cooper said the council needed to be given authority by the public.
“I would like to see the community develop the options that they would be prepared to accept to advance the climate change challenge,” Cr Cooper said.
“I would be reluctant to impose sustainability on the community without consultation or they will be saying ‘bloody council is ripping us off again’.”
Cr Milne said the motion wasn’t to introduce the carbon neutral steps now but for a report to be introduced and public consultation would follow.
Her motion lost two-five. Councillor Chris Cherry voted with the mayor.
Cr Milne’s motion to see homes built in the future be smaller was also knocked back two-five.