ON reading a recent QT article, I was somewhat disappointed with the implied editorial comment that Cr David Pahlke's attendance at the meeting between the Willowbank Area Residents Group (WAG) and the DTMR regarding the Cunningham Hwy upgrade was a political stunt.

The issue of WAG's continuing community advocacy for the upgrade of the Cunningham Hwy from Yamanto to the Amberley/Willowbank intersection was discussed at the last March WAG Community General Meeting with a resolution to continue this advocacy.

Lockyer MP Ian Rickuss also attended this WAG March general meeting and as a later day follow-up offered to convene a meeting between WAG and DTMR.

That meeting was so we could directly express our concerns regarding the urgent need for the highway upgrade and to also discuss the immediate road maintenance required to maintain traffic safety.

Our local representative Cr David Pahlke was also in attendance at the WAG March general meeting, but had absolutely no prior knowledge of this later DTMR meeting arranged by Mr Rickuss.

Given this area of highway also includes multiple junctions with local government roads, I believed that as our Div 10 councillor it was essential to also extended Cr Pahlke an invitation to the DTMR meeting to reinforce our community concerns.

In overview, I personally believe that there should be cohesion, not dissidence, in our representative government on community issues, and as such, there is no place for political party indifference in local government and accordingly, this meeting between WAG and DTMR was convened for the significance of community advancement and definitely not for political gain.

I must also comment that for many years Cr Pahlke has been very proactive in support of our Willowbank community and has the full respect of this community for the sincerity of his representation.

GEORGE HATCHMAN President WAG Inc.