Bangalow development plans slammed

Adrian Kennedy, Bangalow. 

While Bangalow residents may not agitate like other residents in the shire in response to the wrongs done to them, it would be wrong to underestimate the fury and anger the prospect of the Bangalow food precinct development has created.

Many people feel that their voices haven’t been heard and also feel that the vast number of revisions to this development application, including new traffic studies and the like, should require a new exhibition period.

I greatly respect the businesses ‘earmarked’ as tenants for this development. Politically, local government will consider that because these businesses were born here, they should be retained here. I agree with this view.

However, this is not a relevant consideration in determining the appropriateness of this development per se. Tenants are temporary while  development consent is forever.

Employment opportunities created by this development are lower-quality jobs with little or no relevance to a region with high levels of creative industries, economic plasticity and above-average levels of education. Any employment gain is likely to be temporary.

Any objective person realises that these  companies are of a size and scale that will result in the current local owners divesting in time. This will inevitably lead to the relocation of jobs elsewhere.

Further, it is clear these jobs are of a nature that will be replaced by technology and automation in time.

Why can’t we have a vision in this Shire for the types of jobs that we want for our community, that provide utility and meaningful outcomes for the future?

Council would be better served identifying a more appropriate location to implement this strategy in consultation with the state government and the community.

Our sense of place as a village is the cornerstone of our Bangalow community and is entitled to be preserved.