Northern Rivers Wildlife Hospital a step closer after council decision
In their first vote of the new term, some Ballina councillors felt they were choosing between helping animals and protecting human life.
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A new wildlife hospital is a step closer for Northern NSW.
Ballina Shire Council threw its support behind a planning proposal for the Northern Rivers Wildlife Hospital to be located on Lindendale Road at Wollongbar at the first meeting of the new council term on Thursday.
The proposal will initiate a change to planning rules to allow for the facility within the Wollongbar Primary Industries Institute site.
The facility will still be subject to a development application process before it can be built.
Bruce Kemp, who lives near the proposed hospital, was not pleased with the proposal.
Mr Kemp argued while the proposed facility would be great for injured wildlife, its location would put human lives at risk because of a projected increase in traffic on the intersection with the Bruxner Highway and Lindendale Road.
He asked the council to defer the matter.
“Our concern is not with the hospital,” Mr Kemp said.
“Our concern is with the traffic at Lindendale Road and the fact it is a high-risk intersection.
“I put to council they should not even consider approving this when the intersection is the way it is.”
Northern Rivers Wildlife Hospital director Sue Higginson urged councillors to support the planning proposal.
“We live in one of the most biodiverse-rich areas in Australia,” Ms Higginson said.
“Unfortunately, our wildlife is suffering.”
Her group set out to build a wildlife hospital three years ago.
She said its establishment was supported by a feasibility study conducted in collaboration with Murdoch University and the Currumbin Wildlife Hospital.
“The case for a wildlife hospital in the Northern Rivers is overwhelming,” she said.
“The best site we could find is the site before you today.”
She accepted the intersection was “dangerous” but said it had no history of fatalities and a low record of crashes.
Councillor Rod Bruem moved to adopt the council staff’s recommendation that they endorse the planning proposal.
Backed by councillor Eoin Johnston, however, Mr Bruem also pushed for the council to review and restart efforts to lobby the state and federal governments to improve the intersection.
“This is a critical project at this time and it is a difficult decision because we’ve just heard how it will impact on the residents there,” Mr Bruem said.
“I’m sympathetic to their concerns.”
Councillor Phil Meehan opposed this course of action.
Mr Meehan said a traffic report before them suggested there would be “an increased risk to people’s lives” under the proposal.
“I’m not willing to risk one person’s life by increasing the traffic at that intersection,” Mr Meehan said.
“It’s a good concept in the wrong location.”
The council heard staff wanted to see traffic directed by signage to a different intersection, although doubt was raised about whether this would be an effective measure.
Councillor Jeff Johnson said the benefit of the facility would “far outweigh” the traffic risks.
Most councillors supported Mr Bruem’s proposed direction, with Mr Meehan and Eva Ramsey voting against it.
Their decision means the council has formally endorsed a change to the Ballina Local Environmental Plan 1987 to allow for a veterinary hospital at the site.
The council’s general manager was granted authority to finalise the planning proposal.
The organisation was granted consent to use Crown Land for the project back in October 2021.
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