Lennox Surfing Reserve a step closer
The bid to nominate Lennox Point as a National Surfing Reserve has moved a step closer to reality following a Sydney visit by Ballina Shire Councillor Alan Rich.
Cr Rich, who is heading up the bid, met recently in Sydney with the NSW Minister for Lands, Tony Kelly, and personally invited him to the opening ceremony for the proposed Lennox Point Surfing Reserve.
“I knew it was very early in the piece to extend an invitation but the opportunity was there while I was in Sydney attending the NSW Annual Shires Association Conference on behalf of Council,” Cr Rich said.
“I said to him that if all goes well he would be most welcome to attend the official ceremony when it occurs, as he did earlier this year at Angourie.
“The Minister was genuinely enthusiastic, saying ‘Tell Terry to schedule me in. We’re strongly supporting Surfing Reserves in NSW’.”
Grafton-based Terry Flanagan is a Senior Policy Advisor to the Minister and responsible for Surfing Reserves. He also met with Cr Rich at the conference.
Cr Rich said: “Terry emphasised to me that the surfing reserves concept is very much focused on supporting and promoting the ethics of surfing culture and respect for its heritage.
“He particularly pointed out to me that no users can be excluded in the surfing reserve process because that would be against State Government policy.
“This is about respect for surfing’s past and respect for the future. That’s our focus above all else and that’s very important to us.”
Cr Rich also met with the Australian Surfing Reserves and Sites National Reference Group deputy chairman, Professor Andy Short.
He was advised that the next meeting of the National Reference Group would be in July and they are eager to receive a nomination request to create the Lennox Head reserve.
The next step will be to approach Ballina Shire Council to endorse the official nomination to the NRG.
Cr Rich intends to submit a notice of motion to the June council meeting to support the nomination of the Lennox Head working group and committee, which will have its next meeting on June 21.
