Committee hears about consultant

The consulting firm proposed by opponents of the Ettalong fast ferry service, Resource Systems Management Consulting, has made it clear it is "not a substitute for a technical legal response toward the Environmental Impact Statement".
The Armidale consultants describe themselves as "process consultants who aim to provide a service to facilitate a strategic and unified community response to complex and contested issues".
"We aim to facilitate ratepayers response to this controversial development," they say in their proposal to the committee.
"However, the report from the proposed community facilitation exercise can be used to support the community's representation in the Land and Environment Court, should that become necessary."
The consultants say they would aim to develop "a community consensus position to effectively represent the community's claims regarding the integrated implications of the proposed development".
This would be achieved by holding "a facilitated workshop, with diverse community representation", then preparing and presenting a written report at a cost of $6600.