A contentious plan by Ballina Council to build a BMX track has been put aside while an overarching planning strategy gets developed.
Resident Allison Goodman welcomed the decision, saying that at the last meeting, councillors voted unanimously for a Plan of Management (POM) to be adopted for the Ocean Breeze Reserve.
‘The main issue raised was the importance of this last open green space for a rapidly growing Lennox Head community,’ she said.
Ms Goodman said it was ‘to the detriment of Lennox Head’ to proceed ‘with ad-hoc facilities such as a children’s BMX track and community gardens without consultation with the wider community or proper planning.’
She said, ‘Cr Jeff Johnson attempted to retain the BMX track within the POM, but was out-voted. He also complained of the costs surrounding a POM.’
Cr Johnson told Echonetdaily, ‘I don’t agree with Alison’s take on the debate.’
‘It’s unfortunate that a diagram showing the proposed community garden taking up 3/4 of the park was presented to the council only days before the meeting.
‘This definitely clouded the issue and as a result I supported the creation of a plan of management for the reserve.’
‘There is still a majority support on council for the bike track to be located at Ocean Breeze Reserve and that will come back as part of the POM.
‘There is an established need, and council staff have once again recommended that it proceed, and that Ocean Breeze Reserve is the preferred location.
‘I believe that the bike track could have proceeded without a plan of management for this park, but given the recent developments and size of the community garden proposal, I accept that this is an appropriate way forward.’
The bike track plan surfaced nearly 12 months ago after a group of local kids approached Cr Jeff Johnson about it.
The plan received unanimous council support in September 2015.
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. 
