Businesses affected by the proposed upgrade of the Pacific Highway are meeting at the Woodburn Memorial Hall tomorrow (Tuesday) to discuss the future.
The public meeting is being organised by the Richmond Valley Council and will begin at 6pm.
RVC mayor Ernie Bennett has urged businesses that have some dependence on the highway to attend.
Aside from Woodburn, a number of other Richmond Valley communities will be affected, such as Broadwater, Coraki, Evans Head and New Italy.
He said the meeting ‘would look at the many benefits the bypass would bring, and proactively address expected changes’.
‘I support the bypass, however, I recognise that it will affect someone in some way,’ Cr Bennett said.
‘We are inviting community members and interested people to come along to discuss future benefits, as well as air any concerns.
‘A bypass triggers change in the highway-related sector of a town, so Woodburn’s retail landscape may be quite different in the longer-term.
‘We want to focus on the strategies which will help the lower river remain a strong and prosperous region well into the future.’
Mr Bennett will address the meeting, along with the council’s general manager John Walker, Clarence MP Chris Gulaptis, and representatives from the Woodburn Chamber of Commerce, Roads and Maritime Services, TAFE and federal member for Page Kevin Hogan’s office.
A question and answer session will follow the formalities.
For four decades The Echo has printed the stories some people loved, some people hated, and some pretended not to read. If you want us to keep telling the truth, the real truth, not the sugar-coated version. We’ll need your support to keep the presses rolling. 
