Regarding Ballina Hospital emergency/Ballina Shire Council (Echo, 14 October): Jamie Hoile, what a great letter.
A couple of additional points:
• Government grant to help fix traffic flooding on Ross Lane, presumably to sell the proposed floodplain development
• Proposed development opposite Emanuel College – hundreds of houses on swamp land with one proposal for vertical evacuation, i.e. helicopter pad for older people (Stairway to Heaven!)
• Massive development opposite Fishermens Co-Op across the road from Emigrant Creek (tidal).
• The new bridge will only help in dry times and cause huge problems on either side which already floods, so no access to Ballina Hospital
• King tides and heavy rain block Bruxner Highway to Alstonville (i.e. Lismore Base Hospital)
• Heavy rains now cause Ballina Island to be landlocked. New bus terminal (millions of dollars worth) already floods in king tides. A new hospital on the present site will not help if you cannot get to it from either side, including Cumbalum
• Our current Ballina Mayor Cadwallader wants to be the new independent state member for Ballina which is sited on low-lying land. However, various past councils have rezoned low areas for development – nature never stood a chance against the almighty dollar.
A potential Atlantis? When will we ever learn?
C & C Quick, Rous
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. 
