Letter to the Editor: We have already said no

DEAR News Of The Area,

ONE wonders about democracy when some 68 percent of people vote no to multi-storey development at the jetty and yet the State Government continues to spend taxpayer funds to try to convince us we are wrong.

What will this development actually mean for locals?

– The loss of access to our foreshore for years whilst this is developed (anyone else sick of the bypass disruption?

– Traffic chaos on more than Sundays with all these extra cars and less parking places.

– Likely having to pay for parking given the congestion.

– Loss of public space that could be turned into more facilities for us.

– More tourists? Maybe yes, maybe no. It would make us the same as many towns and I talk to tourists who come here for something different. We can also see around the world that locals are pushing back on tourism as it is destroying their homes and lifestyles and people have to leave as they cannot afford to live where they were born.

– Cafes closing in other areas of town (jetty strip perhaps) and even more stress looking for staff.

– Likely more development than is suggested here as developers are renowned for asking for a few more storeys to make the project viable.

– No improvements to the need for affordable housing in Coffs Harbour. Only the very rich will live here.

– A potential loss of the wonderful biodiversity we have. What will happen to the muttonbirds who already struggle with the town lights? Don’t we care that muttonbird island is a tourist drawcard?

That people think it is wonderful to see the amazing birds that live at the foreshore (bird watching tourism is one of the fastest growing sectors).

– A total disaster if there is a disaster or emergency down there with such poor access.

Also, what will be built and will it work?

Let’s look at the State Government record on building things at the foreshore.

– A boat ramp that cost a fortune and continues to cost as it continues to silt up and has to be regularly dredged to work. How many of us even use that?

– A building, now handed to council, that was built “not fit for purpose” so it remains unoccupied years after opening.

Who benefits from this development?

Developers! Not locals.

Don’t trust this fancy video, don’t trust the State Government (after all this is a broken promise on their part, and when one of their ministers’ foreshores was threatened with development it was squashed with little fuss).

Hats off to the Foreshores For All Community Group that keeps prosecuting the case for the majority. Get behind them and we will win.

Regards,
Cheryl COOPER,
Coffs Harbour.