OUR FIELDS SAVED

Save the fields rally 16 November 2016

Save the fields rally 16 November 2016

Following a huge community effort we are proud and relieved to announce our fields have been saved. Thank you to everyone who signed the petition, attended the rally, or shared the campaign on Facebook. Thanks also to Ben Franklin, Nationals MLC and Simon Richardson our mayor.

A message from our Ben Franklin 15 November 2016

"I write with great news.

I met with Education Minister Again today after my meeting with locals on Sunday afternoon.

He has agreed to withdraw the sale from the public market and instead work to sell the land to Byron Council so that it can remain available to the public.

As you can imagine, I am utterly delighted with this outcome.

Thank you all for your hard work on this issue, and particularly for working constructively with me to achieve a great outcome for the community.

I have attached a media release that I will distribute today and a copy of the letter I have received from Minister Piccoli confirming this decision."

Byron Shire Mayor Simon Richardson, SPFC president Chris Lonergan, Patsy Bronson VP of Suffolk Park Progress Association and MLC Ben Franklin attend the rally.

Byron Shire Mayor Simon Richardson, SPFC president Chris Lonergan, Patsy Bronson VP of Suffolk Park Progress Association and MLC Ben Franklin attend the rally.

 

Media release by Ben Franklin

Tuesday 15th November 2016

MEDIA RELEASE

NATIONALS MLC BEN FRANKLIN STOPS SELL OFF OF SUFFOLK PARK LAND

North Coast Nationals MLC Ben Franklin today announced that the sale of Department of Education land at Suffolk Park will not proceed on the public market after a meeting with Minister for Education Adrian Piccoli today.

Mr Franklin succeeded in convincing Minister Piccoli that the government should negotiate to sell the land to Byron Shire Council instead – so that this important public space can remain available to the community into the future.

“The Department of Education regularly buys and sells land in order to target the provision of schools in growth areas and the Suffolk Park site was not considered required for future growth,” Minister Piccoli said

“After strong representations from Ben Franklin regarding the importance of the land remaining available to the community, I have withdrawn it from public sale and have instructed the Department of Education to negotiate a sale with Byron Shire Council instead,” he said.

Mr Franklin met with key stakeholders including representatives of the Suffolk Park Progress Association and the Suffolk Park Football Club at the site on Sunday afternoon to see firsthand how important the space is to the local community.

“It was a privilege to meet with these passionate local advocates and to see how this wonderful and vibrant community space is being used. Today I was proud to take their voices directly to the Minister,” Mr Franklin said.

“As a result of my representations this public sale will not proceed and instead Byron Shire Council will be able to purchase the land and ensure that it remains available to the community,” he said.

“As a Nationals MP, I am proud to be part of a government that has listened to the community’s wishes and acted for the benefit of all local residents,” he said.

“”I have always believed that nothing is more important than standing up for our community – and today they have had a great win,” Mr Franklin said.