Public meeting to follow after invitation-only session with police and politicians

A recent escalation in rural break-and-enters — particularly targeting local macadamia farms — has pushed frustrated growers to call a high-level crisis meeting with police, politicians and senior officials.

Organisers stress this first meeting is invitation-only, but say a full public meeting will be held once agencies have met and a coordinated response is mapped out.

Details of tomorrow’s session were leaked this morning on the Ballina Crime Reports & Community Services Facebook page, where it was incorrectly reported as a public event. 

The agenda — which includes names of attending officials and community representatives — had only been circulated privately to attendees.

Fearing further reprisals from criminal gangs, organisers are keen to keep a low public profile for now.

‘People are begging us to act before someone gets hurt’

Macadamia farms across the region have been hit repeatedly in recent months, with growers reporting a level of planning and force well beyond typical opportunistic offending.

“We’ve had so many people rock up to our business saying, please, we need to do something — people are going to start taking the law into their own hands,” the grower said.

 “We’re desperately trying to maintain calm and keep some law and order.”

He said many in the industry had “lived through similar cycles before” and fear where things could head without intervention.

Who is attending?

Tomorrow’s meeting will bring together:

• Richmond Police District officials
• Rural Crime Prevention Team detectives
• Ballina MP Tamara Smith
• Ballina Deputy Mayor and former NSW Police detective Cr Damian Loone
• Community and agricultural representatives

The Justice Department has also indicated an interest in future sessions, particularly around concerns about repeat offenders and bail decisions.

Public meeting to follow

Organisers say tomorrow’s discussion is only the starting point.   After the closed session, they plan to schedule a second meeting open to the public, where residents, growers and concerned locals can hear the outcomes and contribute directly.

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Police this month recovered two stolen all-terrain vehicles in West Ballina — high-value machines worth tens of thousands of dollars and essential to daily farm operations.

Growers say ATVs, farm bikes and portable machinery are now prime targets for organised thieves who are breaking locks and doors to load and remove equipment within minutes.