Luis Feliu
Ballina shire residents have been urged to lodge submissions in the next two weeks on the controversial massive housing development planned for north of Ballina.
In one of the largest public meetings seen in Ballina for years, up to 300 people packed the Lennox Head Community Centre last Saturday to hear Ballina shire planners explain what’s proposed in the subdivisions known as Cumbalum A and B precincts.
The proposed subdivisions in the hinterland behind Lennox Head is Ballina shire’s largest residential expansion to date, with the two village-style developments planned to house up to 10,000 people.
Plans are currently on exhibition and if approved by the state government would see hundreds of hectares of rural and agricultural land rezoned for around 3,300 low and medium density dwellings over the next 30 years.
The Department of Planning and Infrastructure has told Ballina Shire Council that it wants the proposals for both precincts, owned by over 50 different landowners, finalised soon.
Ballina Council is welcoming submissions from the public in relation to these proposals until the end of March.
Steve Barnier, one of Ballina Council’s strategic planners gave the meeting an outline on the process involved in the rezoning and on the size and scope of the proposals.
Cr Jeff Johnson, who had spearheaded the move for the public meeting, told Echonetdaily that people at the meeting expressed clear concerns over funding and delivery of infrastructure for the subdivisions and the impacts of the development on nearby Lennox Head.
‘Many people raised concerns about the social impacts on Lennox Head. Obviously if you create a new development of over 8000 people, it is going to have an impact on the amenity of Lennox and put additional pressure on the infrastructure. These questions need to be addressed before a rezoning can take place,’ Cr Johnson said.
‘The council report has identified the need to upgrade Ross Lane to four lanes and build a roundabout at the Coast Road junction. Who is going to fund this and what is the time frame? These questions need to be answered.’
Submissions on the proposals will be accepted by Ballina Shire Council until 4.30pm on Friday, March 30. For inquiries call Simon Scott, from the council’s strategic and community services group, on 6686 1284.
