Regarding Ballina Council’s warnings of tidal flooding in various streets in the Ballina Shire (
Echo online,12 January). For several decades we have been trying to stop Ballina Shire Council filling in all wetlands and swamps around Ballina Island.
A drive around Ballina town will show all the areas ‘reclaimed’ from swamp and wetlands. The following are a few – Banyanda Estate, Harvey Norman near the airport, the industrial land near the airport, INXS area, housing estate near Aldi, caravan parks of West Ballina, Over 55s estate near Bunnings – all on lowlands.
The new development proposed for the old Ferryboat Motel site on Burns Point Ferry Road for up to 400 manufactured homes is a prime example of existing flood area. Entry into the motel was considered hazardous after heavy rain and king tides – just observe the flooding in the school near Bunnings, water has been an ongoing problem there for years.