New Website Gives Smithfield Community A Voice

New Website Gives Community a Voice on Smithfield Town Centre... at Last

The Cairns Northern Beaches community will finally get to have a real say in the controversial Smithfield Town Centre development with the launch of a new Website: www.communityfirstqld.com.au

The Website is a forum for concerned citizens, workers, retailers and members of the extended Northern Beaches community who want the right Town Centre for Smithfield.

Smithfield Retailers Association spokesperson Nick Loukas said there were very real concerns in the community that locals had been shut out of the process.

The site had been established to give locals the facts about the Smithfield Town Centre and let local people have their say, he said.

"The Council's convoluted community consultation process has made it very difficult for members of the community to have their say," Loukas said.

"And even though the developer says it is anticipating being on-site next year, it still hasn't released a Masterplan of the Town Centre for the public to have a look at and comment on.

"Instead, the developer is trying to bully Council and the community into supporting the Town Centre.

"But there is no substitute for a clean, independent process. And there is no substitute for letting the community have a say in a major development in our own backyard."

Loukas said the Website was in response to community concerns about being ignored.

"We are pretty sick of being pushed aside in the project and being fed empty promises. We need to have a transparent discussion that involves all stakeholders when it comes to a project as big as the Smithfield Town Centre,'' Loukas said.

For more information please call:
Nick Loukas
0412 359 683


SOURCE: Smithfield Community First