THEY MIGHT argue about politics. They might argue about sharks. Or West Byron. Or even bush doof parties.
But the one thing everyone in Byron Bay and Suffolk Park are united on is that NSW Premier Mike Baird should stop his government’s cynical attempt to deprive Suffolk Park of its community land.
Suffolk Park residents aren’t alone in their outrage at the NSW Education Department’s planned sell-off of treasured community land in Suffolk Park.
Calls for Premier Mike Baird to step in and cancel a planned auction of the land at Lot 60, Beech Drive, Suffolk Park have escalated across the political spectrum.
Federal ALP MP Justine Elliot, Member for Richmond, has called on Mike Baird to call off the auction, adding her voice to Greens NSW State member for Ballina, Tamara Smith’s call for the withdrawal of the land from auction.
Locally, Mayor Simon Richardson has condemned Baird’s sell-off attempt.
“There will be an on site meeting and rally set for Wednesday, November 16th at 5.30 pm.
“We need the community of Suffolk to come out in force – kids, oldies, adults – everyone who uses and cares about this open space in Suffolk needs to let Macquarie Street know they’re wrong on this.”
Mindful that Suffolk Park already has far less community land than Byron Bay did when its population was similar to Suffolk Park’s today, locals are rallying at the injustice of Baird’s attempt to deny Suffolk Park what little community land it has today.
Suffolk Park Progress Association Vice President Patsy Brosnan says that should the land sell, it’s highly likely it will be developed.
“We already have so little community land for a population of 4000 residents.”
“And now the NSW Education Department wants to take that away from us as well.”
The rally held on the community land at Beech Drive, Suffolk Park, on Wednesday, November 16, at 5.30 pm.
Rally organizers have launched a Facebook page called Save Suffolk Park’s “Village Green” and provided the NSW Minister for Education Adrian Piccolli’s contact details:
Phone 02 8574 5300 or use the contact form at http://nsw.gov.au/ministercontactform/minister-education