A second MLC has spoken out against the ‘mega food hub’ proposed for Lismore Road, Bangalow.
Ben Franklin, Parliamentary Secretary for Northern NSW has confirmed that he does not believe that the proposed Rural Industries Food Precinct should proceed at 201 Lismore Road.
Mr Franklin’s statement follows an announcement by Greens MLC Dawn Walker yesterday that she will move a motion in parliament calling on the Joint Regional Planning Panel to reject the development.
Ballina MP Tamara Smith and Byron Mayor Simon Richardson, both Greens, have also spoken out against the 20-acre industrial food processing facility proposed for the narrow, winding road between Bangalow and Binna Burra.
Mr Franklin said that after receiving ‘overwhelming negative feedback from the community’ and following a meeting with a range of local residents at the proposed site on September 15, ‘it was clear to me that the size of the project is not in line with community expectations,’.
‘The village community of Bangalow is unique and its character and amenity must be preserved,’ Mr Franklin said.
‘For me, there are just too many concerns about the potential impact on the local environment, extra traffic, and the general impact on the local community for it to be supported,’ he added.
But Mr Franklin said he ‘strongly supports the development of a food precinct’ elsewhere in the Northern Rivers.
‘This is an emerging growth industry and could potentially be one of the keys to our economic success in this region.
‘I have had a range of discussions with community leaders across the northern rivers and am advised that there are other shires that have shown a high level of interest to have this precinct within their borders,’ he said.
‘I hope that the proponents of the project look seriously at moving the food hub to another location in our region.
‘In a nutshell, I believe this is an example of ‘great idea, wrong place’, Mr Franklin said.
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