The newly elected executive of the Cabarita Residents Association confirmed their main focus this year would be to continue a fight against any plans to build a proposed Tourist Park on land just south of the town centre.
Group president Neil Moores said the group were determined to “protect the Cabarita South Banksia forest”.
“The residents do not want a caravan park changing the character of the foreshore in the south,” he said
“They are not opposed to environmentally friendly development but this project is just wanton destruction of a natural asset. “
Mr Moores said in February residents became concerned after discovering an ecological consultant from Ballina investigating the site.
“Whilst this survey has noted the widespread presence of the Endangered Ecological Community of Callitris Pines, the Geodorum densiflorum (Pink Nodding Orchid currently in flower) and the feeding Black Glossies they would be unable to find the presence of the micro bats which feed on the Banksia blossom because it is not the season,” he said.
Mr Moores said CBBRA believe the results of this survey will be reported to Richard Adams, Head of the Tweed Coast Holiday Parks Reserve Trust.
He said NSW Lands Department had confirmed to the group they had not commissioned the study.
“Although Mr Adams has not communicated with us, despite two requests this year, we believe there are strong intentions to promote the idea of the Caravan park at South Cabarita by using the information from this survey to claim they can work around the harm that would be caused to the environment,” said secretary Suzi Bourke.
However Richard Adams refuted the group’s claim that he had not communicated with them.
He said he had received two letters from the Association – both sent on February 20. Mr Adams said the first letter had arrived in late February and he had replied in early March while the second letter had only arrived on Monday and a reply had been sent that day. He said he had explained explained that a consultant had been carrying out a more detailed ecological study of the proposed park site.
Mr Adams said the survey was now complete but the study would be on-going. He said he would receive a report which he would then he would then pass on to the Trust.
Group vice president Terry Kane said, “the voice of the people is loud but the Reserve Trust won’t listen!”
