THE BYRON SHIRE ECHO Advertising & news enquiries: Mullumbimby 02 6684 1777 Byron Bay 02 6685 5222 Fax 02 6684 1719 editor@echo.net.au adcopy@echo.net.au http://www.echo.net.au VOLUME 20 #26 TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2005 22,300 copies every week $1 at newsagents only
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Route search splits communities Lesley Patterson Communities between Ewingsdale and Tintenbar are becoming increasingly desperate in the search for a Pacific Highway route which does not impact on their lifestyle. Moving heavy trucks back on to the New England Highway and a completely new route via Casino are being touted as options to add to the RTA’s existing four short-listed routes. The prospect of plummeting property values and unbearable traffic noise has created widespread concern throughout the upgrade study area and last week the underlying angst bubbled to the surface as supporters of the RTA’s proposed coastal routes clashed with those backing the upgrade of the existing highway. Bangalow residents have accused the Coastal Environment Protection Society (CEPS), which represents landholders affected by the coastal routes, of disrupting a meeting of people in the 2479 postcode area to discuss the RTA’s four short listed options for the Pacific Highway. ‘The disruptive behaviour precluded any discussion of the proposals even though the demand to keep the highway in its present corridor has very serious implications for very many 2479 post code residents,’ said Bangalow resident Colin Cook.
‘This campaign to keep the highway on the existing highway is only a front for CEPS to prevent any scrutiny of the coastal routes,’ said Paul McClisky who was one of the chairs of the 2479 meeting. CEPS member, Yvonne Harper refutes claims that the organisation disrupted the meeting and pointed out that many of the objectors at the meeting were not CEPS members. ‘CEPS didn’t support sending a representative to the meeting. I spoke for a few minutes as a 2479 resident not a CEPS representative. Many people objected to the fact that they were told they could only ask questions and not make statements. When people are put in that position they will call out from the floor,’ she explained. A four point submission to be presented to roads minister Joe Tripodi outlines the position of a body calling themselves the Unified Group, of which CEPS president Jack Harper is a member. It is asking for interstate freight to be moved back to the New England Highway; the government to start investigation of an alternative inland freight route and rail options; the Tintenbar to Ewingsdale upgrade to follow the existing highway corridor to a class A highway standard; and it supports an immediate start to the Ballina bypass. The submission seems to have
Brunswick Heads and Ocean Shores residents know too well the disruption highway building can cause. Photo of pile driving at Brunswick courtesy the RTA
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No bull, it’s the Mullum show
some weighty support. Last Tuesday the ALP Country Conference called on the minister to investigate a 12 month moratorium on BDoubles using the north coast section of the Pacific Highway until the highway has been upgraded to dual carriageway. The Nationals Parliamentary Party has also supported a proposal by three Nationals MPs to undertake a feasibility study into an inland dual carriageway route for the Pacific Highway using the Summerland Way between Grafton and Casino and then on past Bangalow. ‘The rationale for such a study would be to provide a genuine comparison between the coastal and inland routes between Grafton and Bangalow in terms of costs and benefits,’ said Ballina MP Don Page. Mr Page said a feasibility study on the inland route could be completed reasonably quickly, especially as the state government owns two thirds of the total land required. Details of the location of any inland road between Casino and Ewingsdale are still hazy with Don Page saying on Monday that it is ‘just a Mahaylia Small of Casino makes friends with a Charolais cow at last weekend’s concept at this stage’. continued on page 2
Mullumbimby Show. Photo Jane Schneider
Becton plans under scrutiny in Sydney The latest plans for the Becton site were the subject of a meeting in Sydney last week between the Becton Corporation, Byron Shire Council and the NSW Department of Planning. Becton submitted a revised proposal for its Bayshore Drive land to the state government several months ago and Byron Shire Council were subsequently asked by the Department of Planning for an opinion on the motel and tourism unit development. This opinion has now been delivered and the Sydney meeting was called by the Department to bring all parties together. ‘There was robust discussion about the proposals which Becton presented and we voiced our con-
cerns about not having a total concept for the site,’ said Byron Shire Mayor Jan Barham, who attended the meeting with Council’s Planning Director Ray Darney. ‘We told them that we could only do a proper assessment by knowing the big picture and continued to raise concerns about the tourism models presented. If it is built as presented it creates an opportunity for permanent living,’ Cr Barham added. Becton Corporation’s representative Suzanne Northey told The Echo that the proposals cover all available developable land on the site. ‘The current DA uses land area zoned tourism (2t) after all the
environmental setbacks and boundaries are taken into account. This means Becton has applied for a DA that covers the unencumbered areas of the North Beach site. ‘In December 2004 Becton tabled a comprehensive settlement plan with Council dealing with the whole of the North Beach site. This settlement plan included density controls over the entire site. As it stands today Becton only has plans for the unencumbered areas of the site which is detailed in the Development Application. ‘Down the track who knows?’ she added. Council’s development control plan for the land places a maximum continued on page 2