Tamara Smith MP, Member for Ballina has announced she will be taking to the State election on 23 March 2019 a plan for a Regional Tourism Infrastructure Fund.

“This funding model of a Regional Tourism Infrastructure Fund will help alleviate the massive backlog of infrastructure needs and upkeep for roads and parks in high tourism areas in NSW such as Byron Shire,” said Tamara Smith MP.

From today, road users exiting Alstonville will no longer be allowed to turn right  towards Lismore out of Ballina Road on to the Bruxner Highway between 3pm and 6pm each day according to a letter sent to residents sent by the RMS and NSW government.

Member for Ballina Tamara Smith says she has received complaints about the rule already.

Can't make it to my Ballina office? Come for a chat at a mobile office this month. 

As your local member, I'm always keen to hear from local residents.

I know it's not always possible for everyone to get to my Ballina office during office hours so I'm running a series of mobile offices this month throughout the electorate. 

Joint Media Release

Tamara Smith MP Greens Member for Ballina

Michael Lyons Greens Councillor Byron Shire Council

Greens Byron Shire Councillor Michael Lyon is considering a Motion before the next Council meeting to establish a 12-month trial ‘Clothes Optional Declaration’ for the stretch of beach from ‘The Wreck’ north, to the walking track south of Beaumont's Beach House. 

The ultimate goal will be to eventually close Tyagarah nude beach while still providing a space for naturalist activities at Belongil.

Proud to see local students acting on climate change

Students planning to participate in a national school strike this Friday calling for emergency action on climate change should ignore the Prime Minister’s patronising speech on the matter, said Member for Ballina Tamara Smith.

“The idea that schools and students should have less activism - how incredibly out of touch is the Prime Minister to suggest that young people are not activists in their own right?” said Ms Smith.

Media Release 22 November 2018

Member for Ballina Tamara Smith MP says the proposal by the NSW government to hold an inquiry into water mining in the Northern Rivers region is a pretense designed to fool residents into believing action is being taken.

“This inquiry is a smokescreen and it is very similar to what the Liberal National government did with Coal Seam Gas,” said Ms Smith.

Photo: Tamara Smith MP with members of the Richmond Valley Woodcrafters who have received a Community Building Partnership grant of $20,000 to purchase a Lucas mobile saw mill and other equipment.

Member for Ballina Tamara Smith today announced the electorate of Ballina has secured $330,000 in funding for a total of 19 projects through the NSW Government’s 2018 Community Building Partnership Program.

Member for Ballina Tamara Smith MP has today cautiously welcomed RMS changes to the Bruxner Highway intersection at Alstonville.

“However these measures are a band-aid for the real problem, which is that the intersection is not fit for purpose. A full interchange should have been built in the first place," she said.

A full time ambulance station for Alstonville will be considered by the Minister for Health says Member for Ballina Tamara Smith MP. 

“I have spoken to the Health Minister Brad Hazzard and he has agreed to look at the information I have provided to him about the need for an ambulance station in the Alstonville-Wollongbar area,” says Ms Smith.

Byron Shire residents have had their concerns about extreme levels of short term holiday letting ridiculed by Planning Minister Anthony Roberts in Parliament today, said Member for Ballina Tamara Smith.

“I asked the Minister for Planning during Question Time if the Liberal National government would allow Byron Shire Council to limit unregulated short term holiday letting to 90 days due to the negative impacts that holiday letting is having on the community,” said Ms Smith.