Just a short letter to advise your readers about the notification of Development Application D.A. 2022/721 to Ballina Shire Council (BSC) [submissions for] which close on 14 April 23. This DA needs to be brought to the attention of ‘all’ residents of West Ballina, not just the tiny percentage residing in the one and a half adjoining streets the BSC has notified by mail.
This $75 million (+) DA proposes the construction of more than 150 residences on the south side of Burns Point Ferry Road even though the entire street and adjoining wetlands were inundated up to two metres in March last year, with many of the street’s occupants still not even likely to be able to return for many months yet. This proposal will surely exacerbate the flooding of West Ballina again, as many of the recent, similar, ‘raised-level’ sites did for us last year.
Yes, there is a tiny little sign BSC has stuck in the mud and long grass on the south side of our road, but to read it, or even know what it is, you are required to alight from your vehicle some 40 metres away, walk back and stand on this very busy street (very dangerous stuff). BSC has advised they’ve only sent letters to the Burns Point Ferry residents together with a small portion of Kalinga Street in stone-throwing distance.
What I am saying is that the BSC, and subsequently the ‘deeming authority’ (The Northern Regional Planning Panel), will only receive a ‘pittance’ of concern from the majority of highly vulnerable West Ballina residents unless you publish this letter. So, for the sake of our present and future homes, and our beautiful unique wetland and its wildlife, please say ‘no’ to development in all fragile environments.
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. 
