Media Release
28 February 2018
Greens Member for Ballina Tamara Smith has welcomed news of the withdrawal of the Bangalow Food Hub development application.
“This is very welcome news to many residents of Bangalow. I have met with many who live in Bangalow or near the proposed site and their main concerns were about the increase in traffic, especially heavy vehicle traffic, and the effect development at the site would have on their heritage town and on the local koala population," said Ms Smith.
“I met with residents in 2016 about this development, I attended the public meeting at Byron Shire Council about the development in August last year and listened to a very concerned community. I was planning to have a statement read out opposing this development at the JRPP meeting in March. I am all for regional business and jobs for our area but this was not the right location for such a large development.
“With land values as they are in our region, protecting our rural buffer zones and resisting ribbon development outside of our villages is vital if we are to retain the character that we all love and that attracts people to the region in the first place.
“Preserving the soil and promise of food growing and agricultural production on RU1 zoned land in our region is vital to our local economy and to the future,” said Ms Smith.