I'm sorry, I just can't sit back and not respond to the article you published on 5th March 2024 titled rather dramatically as "Alstonville Show under threat as extremists target closure of showgrounds".

The article quotes Ballina councillor Rod Bruem. If these remarks are indeed attributed to the good councillor, I can only conclude has been bingeing on a diet of bad information, or deliberately distorting the truth to further his own political agenda. In either case, he should know better than to go on record with spurious facts, and you as an editor should have the wisdom to smell bulldust when it is in front of your face.

The "mix of people including extremists" are average Mum's and Dad's who happen to own or rent property throughout the village, some in an area immediately next to a new cattle yard development in the north east corner of the Showground. Obviously those closest to the epicentre are most alarmed.

There is No affiliation with the Greens whatsoever. They do not want to shut the show down. All they are asking is that Ballina Shire Council seriously consider the implications of approving this development which has not previously been the subject of a Development Application. The yards, a significant infrastructure project built at great cost to the show (admittedly partly underwritten by some Government grants) has not been assessed so far by Council.

This development has significant impact potential on a wide area of the town, not just a few residents. These impacts include visual, noise, pollution and health concerns. 

Again quoting Mr. Bruem, “The opponents include people who’ve bought homes adjacent to the Showgrounds and don’t like the idea of events with animals being held there".

Rubbish, these people have No (yes, that's a No) interest in closing down any events. We recognise that the society has always run events including animals, and support them in continuing to do so.

The problem the show has is that the area normally used to host these events is now covered with RV's and caravans, all of which provide a nice income stream. I doubt that turning the main arena into a camping ground has ever been subject to a DA either.

Mr. Bruen again; "the AAS is facing a legal bill that I understand is already in excess of $100k". I think he has slipped a few digits. The cost of taking a case to the Land and Environment court in the first instance is around $1-$2 thousand dollars. If they have paid $100K then something is seriously wrong somewhere.

I won't dignify any of his other assertions by commenting. 

I will enclose a recent photo (not of the nice main arena) but of the development in question. You will note how close it is to residences.

Bruce Hannah