Ballina Electorate Media Releases
NSW Government Should Rethink Plan To Close Tropical Horticulture Centre At Alstonville (19/11/2008)
The New South Wales Government needs to immediately rethink its plans to close the Alstonville Tropical Horticulture Centre.
The Member for Ballina, Don Page, said the Tropical Horticulture Centre is recognised by the State Government as the key facility in New South Wales that supports sub-tropical horticulture.
Mr Page was visiting the Centre today with Nationals Federal Leader Warren Truss and Nationals Senator Fiona Nash.
“To lose that sort of facility would be a terrible blow to horticulture, not only in northern New South Wales, but the rest of the state,” Mr Page said.
“Staff at the Research Station specialise in sub-tropical crops including macadamias, bananas, avocados, passionfruit, low-chill stone fruit, custard apples and more recently blueberries,” he said.
“Their expertise is immense and valuable and some of the research being carried out there is ground-breaking in terms of environmental sustainability. We must not lose this.
“For example an entomologist is looking at how to find more natural solutions for controlling insect pests, while other researchers are focusing on things like reducing erosion and improving the health of soils,” Mr Page said.
“I am strongly opposed to closing the Alstonville Tropical Fruit Research Station – it is a short-sighted move to help plug the State Government’s deficit but it will have long-term implications for horticulture on the north coast,” he said.
Mr Page is circulating a petition calling on the Government not to close the Horticulture research centre.
“Already hundreds of people have signed the petition. I urge people to sign the petition so I can table it when Parliament resumes next week.
“The New South Wales Government needs to realise how much the horticulture industry is worth to the north coast – macadamias alone are worth around $100 million a year in income,” Mr Page said.
“I am seeking a meeting with the Minister for Primary Industries, Ian Macdonald, to try to convince him to look at what we can do to save more than 40-years of study at the Alstonville Tropical Horticulture Centre and the intellectual and practical expertise which has been generated by staff.”
For copies of the petition go to donpage.com.au to download and return signed petitions to Don Page’s Office at PO Box 1018, Ballina, NSW, 2478.
