An aerial training ski jump between 35m and 37m tall, that is 11 to 14 storeys, is being proposed for Lennox Head and has the potential to split the community.
There will be seven ski ramps and a four meter deep pool to land in. The proposal is being funded by NSW state government, Australian sports commission and Australian olympic committee and endorsed by the olympic winter institute of Australia.
The development application (DA) is set to be submitted to council in April for council to comment on said Ballina Mayor David Wright.
The proposal will be decided by the Joint Regional Planning Panel (JRPP) and many are concerned that the council will merely be rubber stamping the approval after the general manager confirmed the council is not able to impose any conditions on the DA.
The ski jump will be located within the existing Lake Ainsworth Sport and Recreation Centre on the site of a current basketball court.
Supported by Ballina Mayor
‘Most people don’t think it will look good,’ said Mayor Wright.
‘There will be economic benefits and tourism and it will help businesses and the local airport,’ he said adding that it has his in principle support.
A similar proposal was ditched by the Newman Government in Queensland in June 2012. Then sports minister, Steve Dickson, was quoted in the Courier Mail as saying: ‘I’ve no hesitation in cancelling this project, which was approved and progressed using some of the most financially unsound reasoning I’ve seen.’
Around 100 people attended the four hour information session at the Lennox Head community centre on Sunday to look at the planned proposals, its height, bulk and impact.
‘It is important not to pre-judge the application,’ said councillor Jeff Johnson who attended the information session.
‘The structure will be highly visible from the lake, the beach, the point and the Pat Morton lookout.
‘As yet council hasn’t had any briefing on this matter. I’ve been calling for this for a while so that council can have a clear idea of the project.
‘The community will want to provide honest and frank feedback and the council should be able to represent the community position.’
The area has been chosen because it is State Government owned and is one of eleven sites, that are loosing money, in NSW that run school camps for children according to Mayor Wright.
‘It will include a physio, orthopaedic surgeon, and sports therapist. That’s not in the current DA, it will be added later,’ he said.
‘Plenty of specialist facilities will follow. It will be pretty shmick when it’s finished. There is a lot of money going into it.’
Visual impact
Some local residents have expressed dismay at the impact that the development will have on the area.
‘I’d heard of it but everyone wrote it off as a joke,’ said local Brian Pool.
‘People in Lennox are a bit aghast. The tallest tower is 37m while the tallest local Norfolk pine is only around 30 to 33m. That makes the tallest tower at least four meters higher than anything else around.
‘I spoke to the director of assets for the office of sports NSW, Michael Bangle, after the meeting and he said that the proposal wasn’t in doubt.’
Councillor Johnson noted that the height of the tallest tower was significantly beyond any other local structures.
‘We are talking about a coastal heath-land area next to the lake and the beach,’ he commented.
‘It is fair to say that it doesn’t fit in with the local environment and that it will stand out. It is right on the beach and is a permanent structure.
‘The main concern that has been expressed to me is about it’s aesthetic impact from all the vantage points around Lennox.’
Residents to meet
The Lennox Head residents association does not currently have an official position on the proposal. They will be discussing it at their next meeting on Monday 3 April at 7pm at the Lennox Head community centre.
However, many local residents have already put out a call to action against the proposal with a Lennox Head against the ski jump facebook page and a change.org petition against the development.
‘The community should be truly consulted on this development and their views and concerns taken on board,’ said local greens MP Tamara Smith.
‘Sport NSW says that Ballina Shire Council will carry out formal consultation and the facility will be assessed under local Development Application requirements – council needs to listen to the community on this issue.
‘One of the major tourist draw cards to our region is our beautiful beaches and hinterland and people are right to be concerned about the impact of such a big structure on our scenic vistas and coastline.’
Looks a bloody monstrosity, just to satisfy a handful of aficionados?
But as usual the feelings and opinions of resident rates payers will be ignored.
This facility was supposed to go near the Sport and Rec in Jindabyne. “Skiing = near snow” Get it? I’m sure they would still be very pleased to have it.
I wonder , do they know about the regular toxic blooms that occur there ,due to the sewerage that continually leaks into the lake ? Perhaps BLUE GREEN could be the new team colours .
G”)
Welcome Lennox Head to the trashing of your town. Something that has been going on for quite a while in Byron Bay. Where absentee owners, living in Sydney, Melbourne, the Gold Coast and overseas love the tourism boom going on in our towns that are driving out local residents. So that theybcan cash in on turning the lovely and natural Northern Rivers region into a Gold Coast high rise tourism swamp. All in the names of jobs and growth. Typically very few casual and underpaid jobs as you watch your township get taken over by greedy national brand names. Happy to crush local economic activity.
Jim Beatson
Byron Bay
A wave pool would be far more useful and popular here. And this belongs in snow country, not here.
Why is it that some people seem intent on destroying the major asset of immense value to our local region — its extensive natural, undeveloped areas. These are the things that keep the tourists coming back. Once the developers and greedy interests fill up the Northern Rivers with high-rises and copycat ‘destination’ projects, destroying any natural features while they are at it, there will be no difference between our region and all the rest of the developed world. We should all rise up to support Lennox residents in fighting this latest ridiculous example of the insanity that is spreading — no difference really to the threat of coal seam gas.
Absolutely ridiculous..a disgraceful thing to do to a very precious piece of Australian coastline. To do this to the detriment of many for the benefit of a few is completely revolting..stick it in Jindabyne or Cooma they like snow there.
Looks like the wet dream of some developers. Stamp on it “Olympia” and you’re sure to get the attention of the State government.
What Lennox really needs is not a monstrosity but sporting facilities that benefit the wider community, not only a few athletes. I’m thinking of kayaking, cross country running, cycling , maybe even abseiling. ‘Fun Boot Camps’ for teenagers desperate to improve their fitness levels. Jeff, stop this nonsense and let sanity prevail. One Gold Coast is enough!
The Ballina Mayor has pretty much done the deal judging from his comments today on ABC Radio. And the process smells more rotten the fish floating in his river.
What an utter disaster for Lennox. I have never seen a greater monstrosity that this..for a few skiers ?? Even Trump would laught this out of town
RISE UP good people of Lennox. Cast out the Mayor and banish him to the top of the Big Prawn.
A total waste of taxpayer money! The ongoing cost of maintaining such an exposed steel structure so close to the ocean will be enough to continue to send their elite people overseas for the next fifty years! If you want to learn to ski jump then go to where the snow falls!
Bring it to Jindabyne sport and recreation.
So . . . hurtling down the slide, presumably on skis, then doing a face-plant in the . . . water?!?!? Then what?
This is what is known, technically, as a “DUMB IDEA”.