Advocate, Letter to the Editor, 16.3.19

Jetty consultation and development

A letter to the Advocate (on January 5^th 2019) addressing the Jetty redevelopment noted that in Coffs Harbour, it seems “the rich get real estate and the rest of us get public consultation”.

The Hon Scott Farlow MLC (parliamentary secretary to the Premier) has now explained in a letter that “the intent of the community consultation process and resulting preliminary concept plans was to create a high-level ‘vision’, which identifies activation and opportunities within the precinct”.

I guess apartment buildings up to five levels along all the railway land corridor meets his concept of “high-level vision” but what a loss for the “Jewel in the Crown” – land now available for recreation lost forever.

After our mayor and council, along with a new local State MP, have won the tunnels for our bypass, I am hopeful they will fight with equal vigour to ensure this land is kept for expansion of our Jetty Beach picnic and recreation areas.

So far there has only been silence about the preliminary concept plans.

Lionel Goodacre, Coffs Harbour