Member for Ballina, Tamara Smith MP has announced applications are now open for the 2018 Community Building Partnership Program, unlocking $30 million for community infrastructure projects across NSW.

“This year $330,000 is available for projects in our electorate, which is an increase of $30,000 on 2017. I encourage local councils and not-for-profit groups to apply for the funds they need to deliver projects with social, environmental and recreational outcomes,” said Ms Smith.

Photo: Tamara Smith MP (centre) with members of the Richmond Valley Woodcrafters Club at their Club workshop which received $5,000 to complete works on the shed and $15,000 to buy and install solar panels on the workshop roof in the 2017 round of Community Building Partnership grants.

Dear Friend --

No New Sand Mine for Lennox  Public Action Meeting

The huge sand mine proposed for Newrybar Swamp Road will severely impact upon fragile coastal ecosystems and the Lennox Head community and everyone accessing the coast along Ross Lane. 

COME TO THE PUBLIC MEETING - SHARE WITH YOUR FRIENDS 

Greens Member for Ballina Tamara Smith has welcomed the early end to the second North Coast Shark Net Trial after concerns about the risk of entanglement of whales making an early migration along the NSW coast.

Greens Member for Ballina Tamara Smith today congratulated the Wollongbar community on its efforts to get its new 13 hectare sporting fields open and announced Local Sport Grant funding for its rugby team.

Read: New Sportsfields Opened in Wollongbar (Echo Net Daily)

Media Release

Live animal exports are cruel and the Greens have proposed a five point transition plan to end the practice, says Member for Ballina Tamara Smith.

More than 33,000 households and businesses in the Ballina, Lismore and Tweed areas could face higher electricity bills due to a proposed reduction in the solar feed-in tariff.

Private Members Speech:

I pay tribute to the people of the Ballina electorate who were affected just over 12 months ago when Tropical Cyclone Debbie hit our region.

Greens Member for Ballina Tamara Smith is calling on locals to nominate seniors who make a positive impact in the Ballina electorate for a 2018 NSW Seniors Festival Local Achievement Award.

Photo: Jenny Grinlington

Published in the Ballina Shire Advocate  Wednesday 14 March 2018:

Options for Lennox tree still under investigation
HOPE still remains for a 200-year-old fig tree at Lennox Head to be saved from the chainsaws – even months after the elected council decided to remove the tree.

Opinion: Published in Byron Shire News 

8 March

Tamara Smith
Member for Ballina

Koalas are a national treasure – so why are we forcing them into extinction locally?

Koalas are one of our most precious iconic species, an animal entwined with our national identity around the world. The upcoming Gold Coast Commonwealth Games uses a koala as its mascot but in NSW they are a vulnerable species, rapidly declining in numbers due to native forest clearing and logging and face ever increasing habitat destruction from roads and urban sprawl.