The Bay (43 page)

There was a scattering of applause as Shelley made her way to the stage. ‘See, this is an issue that is getting the thinkers to speak out in public – not something they normally do,' whispered Lynn to Stolle.

Slim and quietly spoken, Shelley was gently firm as she explained she felt compelled to speak on behalf of ‘The Bay tribe'.

‘Our tribe goes beyond radical green clichés,' she began. ‘Our tribe is the epitome of social and cultural diversity. We have old people and young people, businessmen and businesswomen. Doctors and lawyers, students and teachers. We have musicians and builders and hairdressers and artists. We are people from the hills and people from the coast, and we are a hell of a big tribe!'

Members of the audience called out in support, and with her dark curls bouncing, Shelley continued in a stronger voice, ‘We know that our unspoilt landscape and friendly small-town atmosphere are our greatest assets. We value our lifestyle and our sense of community. Big companies don't understand that we are not into greed and instant gratification – if we were, we would all be living up the road at the Gold Coast!' At this there was a roar. Shelley summed up by pointing out that mega developments were not what this tribe wanted for their community.

Stolle wrote furiously knowing this would be a front page story for the
Bugle
.

Nola thanked Shelley and said, ‘Now I'd like to call on Councillor Buck Hagen.'

Buck ambled onto the stage and the attitude of the audience became more relaxed. They all knew him, and even his opponents agreed that Buck always put on a good performance. He nodded in acknowledgment of Nola, then scanned the hall as if plugging into everyone with individual eye contact. Buck didn't mince words or bother with niceties, and that made many of his performances in council meetings such a highlight. Wisps of hair not restrained in his ponytail sprang around his face, his shirt needed ironing and he had the air of a weary puppy dog who just wanted a good feed and to curl up in front of the fire. In a gentle voice that seemed at odds with his large build and perceived belligerent persona he greeted the audience, now jammed in with standing room only.

‘Yeah, g'day. Glad to be here. Look, this is important. It's not just this bit of land at the Mighty Beach reserve, special and beautiful as it is. It's about what we want in our community. It's about us deciding what we want to happen to a significant area of land, believed till now to be public land. It's about outsiders coming in and wheeling and dealing over our heads to manipulate and con us. Not that I'm saying there's anything illegal about this plan,' he added, lifting a hand in a placatory gesture. ‘But there is a lot of undisclosed issues in this whole procedure. Why don't the owners of the land come forward and speak to us? Why are they hiding behind their lawyers' skirts? If this development is such a bloody good idea, why don't they tell us what they're wanting to build, tell us right now?'

Again there was a muttering of agreement and Buck continued. ‘Like a lot of people, I've been fighting for this community for a long time. But it can't be left to the old brigade alone to keep The Bay the kind of place that makes it unique – a little bit of paradise as it is constantly called, particularly by the increasing number of new comers banging on the door. The problem is that for a lot of folk these days finding a little bit of paradise is like finding a potential goldmine. Unfortunately for us, ruthlessly exploiting a goldmine is considered by them as the only way to go. Generally speaking, greed is their religion and to hell with anyone who gets in the way. Their argument that if they don't do it someone else will is not acceptable!'

Another burst of applause followed by brief remarks between members of the audience and Buck sensed it was time to wrap up. ‘There are many relatively new people in our community and they must be made aware of what's been won, what's under threat, and how quickly we can be undermined by the greed of money grubbers, who mostly don't live here. So if you want to live here, in a place you chose because it's clean, green and beautiful, then you bloody well have to fight for it.'

He strode from the stage to strong applause and a few exchanged smiles.

For the next hour there was heated discussion about the threat to Mighty Beach and conflict between the vision of the conservation faction and others who saw the need for compromise if the town was to economically survive and provide more jobs in the future. Several speakers emphasised that from a strictly legal point of view, the rezoning application was in order. The full details of the project would be revealed and publicly debated at some future occasion, if rezoning was approved.

Eventually Nola called everyone to order. Then without expressions of dissent the meeting passed a motion to form the Mighty Beach Action Group to take appropriate steps. ‘So I'm calling for volunteers for a small steering committee. Have we a nomination for chairperson?'

There was a moment of silence then Mac rose to her feet. ‘I would like to nominate Holly Jamieson.'

‘Seconded,' called Billy, lifting his arm.

Holly was shocked. ‘Oh, no I couldn't. I mean –'

‘Go for it, Holly,' whispered Amber.

Nola flashed a smile towards Holly. ‘It's an important frontline job, Mrs Jamieson, do you accept nomination?'

Holly glanced over her shoulder to Mitch who gave a thumbs up and a huge smile. And in that moment, Holly felt some kind of strength, a sense of purpose, along with a devil-may-care feeling of release. She stood up and addressed the audience through Nola. ‘I'm flattered that as a relative newcomer I could be considered worthy of such a role. Yes, I accept and will do my best to reflect the wishes of the community.'

Nola ran through a few more nominations for the committee, which were agreed to, and handed over the meeting to Holly to close. ‘Keep it very short and sweet, my dear,' she whispered as Holly stood before the microphone.

‘Ladies and gentlemen, thanks for your vote. I hope our committee will deliver the goods, with the help of the wider community, of course. As it stands the outcome may well depend on votes in council, so we have to ensure that our representatives really hear what we're saying. These days, it seems to me, that at too many levels of government, on too many issues, the people in power say they're listening, but really they aren't listening and don't want to hear what the people are telling them. There's a big difference. Thank you, goodnight and thanks for coming.'

The applause this time was punctuated by some cheering, and a brief chant from the teenagers present: ‘Save Mighty Beach . . . Save Mighty Beach. Yeah.'

As Holly stepped down from the stage a young man with a shaved head, a lot of body piercing and tattoos stopped her. ‘Hi, I'm Clive. I run one of the tattoo parlours. I'm with you guys one hundred per cent. Look, what do you think of this?' He pushed up his shirt sleeve to show a tattoo on his arm – ‘Save Mighty Beach'.

‘Oh, my, that is dedication,' said Holly, slightly startled.

‘It's only temporary, it'll wash off in a couple of weeks. I thought you might like to give 'em out to people.'

‘Well, thank you. It's different from bumper stickers.'

Next a tall, distinguished-looking man introduced himself to her. ‘Hello, I'm Alec Shand, I'm a QC. I've seen the light and retreated from the city hurly-burly.' They shook hands and he introduced his attractive wife. ‘We're living up here now and I have chambers not far away. If I can be of assistance please call me.'

Holly thanked him profusely and was interrupted by Fiona asking for an interview.

Letitia met Andrew at the airport and embraced him. It seemed to Andrew that she clung to him a fraction longer than normal. Then she pulled away and was all business, filling him in on the latest gossip and radio feedback from the public meeting. ‘It's really stirring the hornet's nest. Those friends of Holly's are going off in all directions, mad as hell.'

Andrew shook his head. ‘I don't know what's happened to her since she moved up here. She's a totally different person.' He was silent for a moment, thinking that despite their differences Holly had blossomed into an intriguing and interesting woman. Far more so than when they were living together in Sydney.

‘The tourist people should promote The Bay as the place you go to change your life, rather than concentrating on the scenery and the opportunities for dropping out,' Letitia said in a tone that surprised Andrew. It sounded cynical and lacked her usual energy.

He rested his hand on her thigh as she drove. ‘You're going to have a big change in your life too. When this whole thing takes off, so do we!'

‘Change. Yes, I want a change. No more small town for me,' she said fiercely, in a sudden switch of mood. ‘It's money, Andrew. Big dollars to change my life.'

Andrew was slightly taken aback at the vehemence of her tone. But it was her ambition and thirst for money that were among the things that had attracted him to her. He decided to match her businesslike tone. ‘So where and when do I give the presentation?'

‘At the Bay Best Motel, there's a nice convention room. We've got the model set up, display pictures, video screen, brochures, press kits. Drinks and food, of course.'

‘Who's been invited?'

‘Media, councillors, key community and business leaders. A couple of the opposition people. You'll do the main presentation, Sam will be there to answer questions.'

‘Sounds great. How is Sam handling the pressure?'

‘He's taking it all very calmly, and he's managed to calm down his old mate Bright. He freaked out for a while.'

‘I'll have to calm Holly down. I'd better see her right after I check in. Car organised?'

‘Yes, just sign the papers at the desk,' she said, then added in a more subdued voice, ‘You might not find calming your wife as easy as you think.'

‘Don't worry about that,' he said, leaning over to kiss her cheek, totally missing her slight tensing. ‘Lunch?'

‘Afraid not. I have a few things . . . to deal with.'

‘Dinner. Even better.' He kissed her again as she dropped him outside the serviced apartment the General had used.

Letitia glanced up at Nola's penthouse wondering if she was watching. Too bad. Andrew and Holly's marriage was over. Just the same, Letitia liked to keep her private life private. She wondered how long it would be before her name was raised in connection with this now contentious scheme, which, in Bangkok, had seemed so simple, so straightforward.

Andrew had rung Holly, so she made coffee and an apple cake which she knew he liked. When he walked up to Richmond House he was surprised at the changes. The garden was bursting with early spring blooms, it was beautifully maintained and dotted about were those touches he recognised as so Holly – a rustic love seat, urns filled with geraniums, an arbor with exotic climbers drooping fat trumpet-shaped flowers, small statues and fountain all discreetly placed among the tropical greenery.

The verandah looked inviting with chintz-covered wicker chairs, a lounge and a table set for morning tea with a vase of roses in the centre. He called out and went indoors to where Holly was putting the coffee and cake on a tray.

They greeted each other awkwardly, neither pecking the other's cheek. Instead Holly busied herself with the tray. She somehow felt this might be the last time she and Andrew would share morning coffee together. She felt calm, resigned to the change they were both facing. For once she felt more at ease than he did.

He glanced around the house marvelling at the restoration, the peaceful ambience, the combination of beachy casualness blending with classical good taste. ‘You've done a great job, Holly. It all looks very comfortable. Tasteful. I'd stay here,' he tried to joke.

‘I had help, so much help from so many friends,' she said.

‘You've really settled in here, haven't you? More so than in Mosman. So what are your plans?'

Holly carried the tray to the verandah. ‘More to the point, Andrew, what are yours?'

He didn't want to discuss this, for if the truth were known he didn't have any plans. He hated this upheaval. He had liked his ordered life in Sydney with Holly, the excitement of his affair with Letitia, the lure of fame and riches with his involvement with Beacon Land Holdings. But the sudden notoriety, disturbed business partners and a distracted Letitia were items he hadn't expected to suddenly turn up on his agenda.

‘My main focus is to get this project up and running. Believe me, Holly, it's nothing tacky. I have put a huge amount of time and effort into this whole thing.'

‘So it would seem.' She sipped her coffee.

‘My reputation rests on this project coming off.'

‘That's a shame.'

He looked at her. Her calmness unnerved him. ‘I trust you're not going to go out of your way to make trouble with the development.'