The Northern Rivers Times Newspaper Edition 110

HEAT EXPECTED AT FOOD-HUB MEETING

MARGARET DEKKER

Aggrieved residents of Cudgera Creek in the Tweed Coast hinterland are determined to make their views known about a large agricultural food hub being proposed in their quaint rural locale. The Northern Regional Planning Panel will hold a public meeting via videoconference on August 23, to help determine DA21/0812 into an ‘agricultural food hub comprising of 19 industrial sheds, associated earth works and internal site roads’ on farmland bordered by Cudgera Creek Road, Reserve Creek Road and the Pacific Motorway. If permitted, the Agricultural Food Hub, proposed by Cudgera Creek Investments P/L and Chase Property Investments P/L, would comprise almost 54,000m2 – approx. the size of Tweed City Shopping Centre -

Colleen Toovey (fourth from left) stands with members of the Cudgera Creek Pottsville Protection Alliance.

across the 20-ha site zoned Rural. “The purpose of the meeting is to give interested people the opportunity to speak directly to the panel before a decision is made,” NSW Planning Panels wrote to stakeholders last week. The Panel aims to publish its decision on the $72-million development on the Planning Panels website within seven days of the public meeting (before September 1.) Colleen Toovey lives 20 metres from the

proposed Cudgera Creek Agricultural Food Hub site. She welcomes the long-awaited chance to voice her deep concerns about the proposed development, at the public meeting. “Ever since the briefing on the 19th January 2022, we have been waiting for the next step. We’re given 3 minutes each to present our case which is definitely not enough time to thoroughly go through the number of objections we have. We don’t even know how many of

us will get to speak. I myself will focus my presentation on flood impact, wastewater, noise, visual and environmental impacts,” Colleen Toovey told The Northern Rivers Times. Ms Toovey hopes there will be ‘power in numbers’ and that all of her and other residents’ further concerns about sewage, pollution, ecological impact and loss of rural amenity will be heard. She welcomes the chance to access the development’s reports, now available through

Planning NSW, and says she “will go through them with a fine-tooth comb.” The long-time Tweed Valley local questions why the Northern Regional Planning Panellists did not visit the site in person. “Things look very different in real life compared to on paper. A decision of this magnitude will affect so many of the residents and should definitely not be made lightly, let’s hope they make the decision in our favour. Until then the stress and sleepless nights will continue,” Resident Colleen Toovey said. Anyone interested in addressing the panel and/or listening in to the public meeting must first register with the Planning Panel Secretariat by 4pm this Friday, August 19, on 02 8217 2060 or email enquiry@ planningpanels.nsw.gov. au.

KYOGLE COUNCIL

Kyogle Council met last week. Be aware that in Kyogle itself, there are some traffic condition changes happening in Roxy Lane. These are to manage safety now but are not part of the upcoming redevelopment of the Kyogle CBD. The Woodenbong CBD beautification draft plan is to be released for public comment. Most changes focus on Macpherson Street but lead into Unumgar and Lindsay Streets for a cohesive appearance. Features include street printing, cobble style feature paving, Corten steel features (rusted look), feature trees, and a place for art installations and cultural storytelling. Upgrades to public toilets and information shelter are included and potentially the bus shelter. Nine motions were put forward to be included in the Local Government NSW Annual conference. If selected, these motions become resolutions that LGNSW advocate for council with higher levels of Government. Recommended was to lobby for the betterment of infrastructure, aged care, health, housing, telecommunications, policing, and council funding. The local SES crew’s activities during the floods will be thanked formally by Council for their efforts and dedication. It was unanimously agreed to acknowledge them as “Selfless people for their commitment and actions.”

Saffin eagerly awaits $64-million Riparian Restoration Program

STATE Member for Lismore Janelle Saffin says river health on the Northern Rivers will finally get some detailed attention under an upcoming $64-million Riparian Restoration Program. Ms Saffin was advised that New South Wales and the National Recovery and Resilience Agency are finalising arrangements for the program which will focus on the restoration of priority riverine and estuarine habitat in floodimpacted local government areas. She understands that the Riparian Restoration Program will be delivered

by the Department of Regional NSW in partnership with Local Land Services, Department of Primary Industries and the Environment Protection Authority.

“I eagerly await this program as a start to correcting the almost wanton neglect of our rivers,” Ms Saffin says. “We have denuded and desolate riverbanks, with the Richmond River rated at D and F for river health in some places. “I am pleased that the NSW Legislative Council Flood Inquiry report recommended that the NSW Government invest

in the restoration of the Wilsons and Richmond Rivers to include riparian restoration, water quality and river health

improvement. “I want the Riparian Restoration Program to speak to the Northern Rivers Watershed Initiative

(NRWI), a $150-million strategy to restore the Tweed, Brunswick, Richmond and Evans River systems over 10 to 15 years. “The NRWI had the imprimatur of the Northern Rivers Joint Organisation and broad community support, but despite our best efforts, it never got traction with the NSW Government. “I have asked the Northern Rivers Reconstruction Corporation for a full briefing of how the program will be rolled out once the finer details are known.”