I refer to Allan Brown’s letter (Bay Post, July 25) regarding the LEP and my role with the Eurobodalla Ratepayers Association and the ancient history of my previous position at council.
We obviously can’t expect a councillor with more than a decade at ESC to know the duties of senior council staff.
In the interest of clarification, I was responsible for a large skilled team of environmental health officers and educators, rangers, laboratory, Landcare and food inspection staff.
There was also major involvement in all estuary management committees, the scientific advisory committee and a complex water testing program for rivers, estuaries, beaches and town drinking water.
Therefore, the role was one of ensuring the health of our environment and residents rather than town planning/LEP.
Like councillors, LEPs come and go. Since leaving council, I have lobbied the federal government through Regional Development Australia to increase allowances for our tertiary students studying in expensive cities (increase came through July 1), as well as co-ordinating the TeenSafe driving program to educate teenagers in safe driving so that our roads are a bit safer for us all.
I often wonder what some of the long-term paid councillors have actually achieved for our community.
Gary Smith, Coila