DAWN WALKER MLC, GREENS NSW MEDIA RELEASE: Greens raise plight of Bangalow's Koalas and mega Food Hub in State Parliament Greens MP and Koala Protection spokesperson, Dawn Walker has raised the plight of Bangalow’s koala population in State Parliament and thrown her support behind the community campaign against the Bangalow mega Food Hub development at Lot 201 Lismore Road, Bangalow. “Many people are unaware, but Bangalow has a precious koala population and the local community are working hard to protect local koala habitat and food trees, many of which are along the busy Bangalow Road or on private land. “However, like most koala populations across NSW, Bangalow’s koalas are under pressure from car strikes and urban development, including the mega Food Hub proposal at lot 201 Lismore Road, Bangalow that is currently before the Joint Regional Planning Panel. “I share the concerns of Ballina MP, Tamara Smith, Mayor Simon Richardson and the community about the impacts of the proposed mega Food Hub at Bangalow, which will result in a significant loss of RU1 agricultural land, a large increase in local traffic and negative impacts on the local koala population; if it proceeds at the proposed scale. “That’s why I’ve called on JRPP to reject the Bangalow mega food-hub DA in its’ current form in State Parliament. “The Greens believe that food processing and manufacturing industries are vital for the Byron Shire economy, but they need to be at an appropriate scale and at an acceptable location, and not dwarf our small villages like Bangalow. “Given koalas on the North Coast have almost halved over the last 20 years, it’s vital that we started recognising and protecting each koala population from urban expansion, especially as they become more fragmented and have less opportunity to recover as their numbers decline. END: Image Attached: Dawn Walker MP and Linda Sparrow from Bangalow Koalas in front of site of proposed Bangalow Food Hub Media contact: Graeme Williams 0402 438 833 -------------------- Copy of the motion: Ms Walker to move— That this House: (a) recognises the unique koala population at Bangalow in Northern New South Wales and the efforts of the community group ‘Bangalow Koalas’ which is working to protect local koala habitat and food trees, (b) notes the serious concerns of the Bangalow community regarding the development of the proposed mega food hub for a variety of reasons, including the inappropriate scale of the development, the loss of RU1 agricultural land, the increase in traffic and the impacts on local koalas, (c) congratulates Byron Shire Council Mayor, Simon Richardson and local MP, Tamara Smith for their considered opposition to this development and their advocacy for preserving RU1 agricultural land and support for a local food hub in an appropriate location and scale, and (d) calls on the Joint Regional Planning Panel to reject the Bangalow mega food hub development application due to the many deficiencies in the proposal, including impacts on koalas.