Councillor Elly Bird had not formally declared her intentions for the 2024 Local Council Elections on September 14. However, that changed over the weekend.

Councillor (Cr) Bird posted a video on social media stating that she will not be standing for re-election this year.

The Lismore App contacted Cr Bird about her decision and to discuss the future of the Our Sustainable Future (OSF) party.

"Our Sustainable Future was registered almost 25 years ago, as a small political party based in the Northern Rivers, that was solely focused on Local Government in the region," Cr Bird said.

"For the last eight years, I have been the OSF Councillor in Lismore, and for the eight years before that Simon Clough was in the seat. The Party also had strong representation in Byron for thirteen years with Councillor Basil Cameron. 

"When he was a Councillor, Simon was at the forefront of the Coal Seam Gas campaign and was a champion for renewable energy and climate action. When Simon stepped down, my work on the CSG campaign paved the way for me to join Council, and in my term, I have continued that focus on climate resilience.

"Obviously, we have had numerous disasters since I was elected, and so that has had to become a more specific focus on disaster risk reduction and community recovery and resilience. 

"For eight years, I have been a member of the Floodplain Management Committee and also the Chair of Arts Northern Rivers, I have also valued my time on both the Nimbin Advisory Group and the Aboriginal Advisory Group.

"I’ve always been focused on making decisions that move Council towards financial sustainability, and as a long-standing member of the General Manager Performance Review Committee, I have been involved in the recruitment, contract and performance management of five different General Managers.

"In all, my decisions have always prioritised listening carefully to the community and the perspectives that are put to us and then balancing those perspectives within the constraints and challenges of local government. 

"My recovery work with Resilient Lismore is the main reason that I have decided not to stand this time round. I can’t manage the significant workload of being a Councillor at the same time as managing the significant workload of managing Resilient Lismore.

"Being a Councillor could be a full time job if you were to do the job properly, and you really do need a minimum of 2-3 days a week to do the role justice. Unfortunately I just don’t have the time. I may come back to Council in the future because I am very passionate about it and I have learnt a great deal about how it all works! 

"Our Sustainable Future has always been a small political party, but it still takes effort to maintain the required membership and registration requirements. Simon has well and truly retired, and I don’t have the capacity to maintain it, so sadly, alongside my decision not to run, we have also made the decision to wind up Our Sustainable Future after it’s 25-year legacy in the Northern Rivers.”

With Cr Bird not contesting this election, she does leave the door open for a return to local council in 2028. Cr Bird won't be running on the Our Sustainable Future ticket, so will a new party be formed or will she register as a Greens or a Labor Party candidate? We have four years to wait for the answer.