I have grave concerns about what our current councillors are prepared to push through before the election – in order to get support from developers. Just the other day council agreed to lift the “scenic hatching” at the south end of Milton and change the zoning from rural to residential. This despite years of protest within the Shoalhaven community as well as objections from State Government. How does it happen? Why are regular ratepayers who care about their community constantly ignored? The answer, of course, has nothing to do with people or the environment. It has to do with money.

This is why we need candidates like Dennis Argall, people with intelligence, skills, diplomacy, as well as a love for the area, who have the guts to take on the challenge for change.

Please stand for Mayor, Mr Argall. I hope other good candidates, whether they are from Shoalhaven Action Campaign, The Greens, Liberal, Labor or other quality independents step forward and support your candidacy. How wonderful it would be to have a fresh council of real community minded professional people, who can consider the future of the Shoalhaven with more than dollar signs in their eyes.

For the rest of us, new candidates do not have the financial resources that current councillors can muster to promote their campaigns, so it is time to pull our collective fingers out and ask what we can do to support candidates who are prepared to clean up our council and protect our future.

S. Collins,

Milton.