Media Release
29 June 2015
State Member for Ballina’s petition based on incorrect information
A Byron Bay community group says a petition by the NSW State Member for Ballina is
based on incorrect information and may mislead public perception on the issue.
The Byron Preservation Association (BPA) says Greens member Tamara Smith has
circulated the petition without any real knowledge of the interim rock walls it opposes at
Belongil Beach and is promoting conflicting Greens’ party propaganda.
Ms Smith is calling for a stop to the construction of interim rock walls at Border, Don and
Manfred Streets, which have already been approved by the current Byron Shire Council
and also previously voted for by Greens Councillors.
“The information in Ms Smith’s petition is just wrong, and she needs to be careful about
what she promotes as fact as it may mislead the public and policy makers on the matter,”
BPA chairman Michael Siddle said.
“There are three interim rock walls to be constructed at Belongil Beach which were
originally approved by Greens Councillor’s Barham, Coman, and Staples in 2000.
“These are interim measures to protect a majority of public land, not private land as she
says, and will not cause further erosion or the loss of beach as promoted by her and other
members of The Greens.”
The BPA cites the most recent expert report commissioned by the Byron Shire Council
from Water Research Laboratory, a part of the School of Civil and Environmental
Engineering at University of NSW, which says:
“These proposed structures would replace existing structures on a coast with
predominantly hard foreshore protection. Therefore, they would not cause an incremental
increase in off-site impacts. Without these structures in place (whether the existing or
proposed), neighbouring structures are vulnerable to flanking failure.”
Mr Siddle said the ongoing agitation by The Greens, including misinformation spread
through a recent speech by The Greens member Jan Barham in NSW Parliament was
either misinformed or deceitful.
“The fact is a majority of the land to be protected by the interim rock walls is public, not
private as promoted by The Greens,” Mr Siddle says.
“The land to be protected at Border and Don Streets is 100 per cent public, with 65 per cent
of the land at Manfred Street also public.
“The community need to know the facts, not the misinformation Ms Smith and Ms Barham
push as it may have long-term ramifications for other beaches in the Shire which may also
need to be protected.”
The BPA is a not-for-profit organisation concerned about coastal issues in the Byron Shire
who object to the principal of planned retreat in an urban area.
ENDS
For all media enquiries contact the Byron Preservation Association on 0455 944 829 or
email byronpreservation@outlook.com.au
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