Ballina Electorate Media Releases
Don Page Supports The Retention Of Roundhouse Site In Public Ownership (21/05/2010)
Member for Ballina, Don Page MP, has written to Byron Shire Council in support of the retention of the Roundhouse site at Ocean Shores in public ownership.
“For many years I have been concerned about the lack of public infrastructure at Ocean Shores. I believe it would be extremely short sighted of Council to allow the Roundhouse site to be sold off and not kept for community use,” Mr Page said.
Despite Ocean Shores having a population of around 5,500, it has very few community facilities compared to other towns of similar size.
Mr Page said that Ocean Shores needs public infrastructure much more than it needs a few additional blocks of land.
“Once this site is sold it is gone forever as far as community use is concerned,” he said.
“I am currently sitting on a State Parliamentary Committee which has conducted an inquiry into Arts and Cultural activities in NSW beyond the Sydney CBD. We have concluded that arts and culture not only enhances a community’s sense of identity, it also brings lasting economic benefits.
“You only have to look at the way Bangalow has embraced an arts and cultural agenda to see a local example of this on our own doorstep,” Mr Page said.
“There is an obvious need for this site to remain in community ownership to enable a suitable arts and cultural centre to be established,” he said.
“I sincerely hope that Byron Shire Council make the decision to retain the Roundhouse site in public ownership for a much needed arts, cultural, heritage centre for many decades to come.”
