Development the hot election topic
OVER or under developed, whichever side you fall on, there is no doubt that development and its future on the Tweed is an important issue for most candidates.
The Daily News asked 12 lead candidates for their opinions on development in the Tweed.
Tweed Heads candidate Kaye Sharples said it was important to "restrict the high-rise development from the Queensland border to the Tweed River".
"Tweed Heads must be a contented place in which to reside because that is the reason we all came here, to live and bring up our kids, or retire," she said.
Jayne Henry said the Tweed should exhaust developments already designated, such as Kings Forest and Cobaki Lakes, before opening more land.
Bruce Campbell said the Tweed had to rebuild its tourism and agricultural land.
Cr Warren Polglase said the challenge was to find like-minded people willing to move the shire forward.
Cr Dot Holdom said the target should be "brownfield" sites, such as South Murwillumbah.
Cr Phil Youngblutt said South Murwillumbah needed redevelopment with development opportunities in industrial sites.
Gary Bagnall said development must be community-driven.
Mayor Barry Longland said the plan for development was already in place.
"The job of the next council will be to ensure that the roll-out of these developments will be done in a way that does not compromise our environmental and social values," he said.
Carolyn Byrne said there was a disconnection between investment attraction and implementation.
Cr Katie Milne said sustainable development was the answer.
"I believe the shire would prosper if we developed a reputation for creative, innovative and sustainable development," she said.
