Tuesday 13 August 2013

Saving the Ballina Plateau


Letter to the Editor The Northern Star 9 August 2013:

Buffer zone

FOR 30 years the villages of Alstonville and Wollongbar have been separated by an agricultural buffer zone. This land has resulted in the Plateau being seen as the rural heartland of Ballina Shire. In the past, attempts to rezone this land have been rejected by council.
A rezoning application is currently on exhibition with council that seeks to rezone part of the buffer, which is also State Significant Farmland, to industrial land. This time council appears to be supporting the rezoning.
One might ask why? Nothing has changed since the rejection of this application in 2002. It is still designated State Significant Farmland, and it is still zoned Urban Buffer. There is plenty of industrial land nearby.
If this rezoning is approved it will set a precedent for others who also want to rezone and before long our unique green belt between Wollongbar and Alstonville will be lost.
If you love the Plateau with its rural flavour please respond to this rezoning application immediately. The deadline for submissions is August 16.

Jane Gardiner
Past President
Alstonville and District
Ratepayers Association

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