This is a reply from Julie Greer, Division 4 Councillor, Moreton Bay Regional Council

Dear Very Concerned Resident

I write in response to your challenge to me to respond to your article in the Rants & Raves section of the North Lakes Messenger, Volume 4, page 16 dated November 8.

My response was sent to the North Lakes Messenger on Friday 7 November and due to circumstances beyond my control it was not published.

The response is as follows :-

I have already met with a group of concerned residents from the Halpine Lakes area on the issue of the development at Halpine Lakes Estate. A representative from the Koala Action Group was also in attendance.

I invite you to contact me on 3480 6705 to arrange a time for us to catch up so we may fully discuss this and any other issues you may wish to raise.

There are well over 19,500 residents in Division 4 and I am always available to assist with any enquiry that concerns any resident. Attending public meetings, community events and functions is part of my role as your local councillor.

I look forward to meeting you.

Julie Greer
Division 4 Councillor
Moreton Bay Regional Council

Article from the NLM & D 8th November - "I was most disturbed to read the information about the proposed destruction of Koala habitat along Freshwater Creek Road at Halpine Lake Estate. I too, do not object to development, but can it not be done in an environmentally sound way. Many other first world countries are now managing to sustain the balance, why not us ?

On the news last night there was a report about trying to save the declining Koala population in the Western suburbs. 'Man' is amazing, we destroy everything natural we have, and then spend thousands of dollars trying to fix the problem! Do we never learn? We are having enough problems in the few allocated 'natural' areas with illegal trial bikes scarring off the natural wildlife, are we supposed to sit back and allow this to happen too?

Come on people, lets rally around and challenge the council about this move. If we don't do something now, there will be no beautiful koalas (or other wildlife) for our grand children to enjoy.

I challenge Julie Greer to respond in this column about the situation. I read in the same publication about all her many public & social engagements (do you do any actual 'work' for the community?), and while I admire this social aspect, we actually pay you to do some work ... what are you doing to protect our wildlife habitats?

Very concerned resident"