a tale of two futures

Fast forward to 2023.

The northern rivers region has flourishing port facilities at Ballina or Yamba and vibrant nearby support industries and commecial/retail businesses.

Improved port facilities have lead to a resurgent fishing industry.

Ballina itself has shaken off a stark reality from just a decade earlier as a town in decline and a depressed commercial district where you could shoot cannons down any street any night of the week without it being noticed.

Real estate is strong and there have been a few successful coastal integrated residential/tourist developments.

Ballina airport has been upgraded and more frequent daily flights schedules meaningfully connect the region with the rest of Australia.

Hinterland towns like Casino, Lismore and Kyogle are also flourishing, with local and state government funded infrastructure spending. Commercial businesses are thriving around emerging industry developments and high value, smart technology, businesses relocating to the region for the abundant skilled and upskilling workforce, nearby southern cross university, affordable homes, nearby recreation facilities, the pleasant balance of rural, residential and tourism in the region, all within several hours drive of Brisbane.

It is achievable and could be a celebration of lifestyle, business, agriculture, resource and environmental co-existence underwriting generations of family stability and pragmatic, balanced, greener living.

Some of the balance might include low carbon powergen from a gas fired power station, a local CNG industry fuelling cars and a passing national transport fleet as well as reticulated gas to local towns and affordable bottled gas to rural properties, idustries attracted to secure affordable cleaner energy.

This is what wouldn't be immediatley apparent:

1. Low visual and amenity impact gas fields with isolated metal clad farm like shed structures housing well heads and revegetated buried gas reticulation, all negotiated amicably with willing land holders

2. Low visual impact to invisible fully revegetated buried gas pipeline to the coast, most likely located not too far from existing road reserves

3. Perhaps or perhaps not a visible structure at or close to the coastal crossing where the pipeline becomes submarine and heads out over the horizon to a floating LNG docking station

4. NSW entering a period of economic vibrancy motivated by the innovative, visionary, community sanctioned development unfolding in the northern rivers region

Yes, the above is my imagination, but I have had 30 yrs or more of imagining and executing in my working life ... I firmly believe if it can visualised it can be made to happen.

The likely alternative is for local residents and public officers to jump on board the anti gas protestor train chugging along one of the several presently inoperative rail lines in the region.

Dex