THE BYRON SHIRE Volume 23 #33 Tuesday, January 27, 2009 Mullumbimby 02 6684 1777 Byron Bay 02 6685 5222 Fax 02 6684 1719 editor@echo.net.au adcopy@echo.net.au www.echo.net.au 21,000 copies every week
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THE FRESH NEWS PEOPLE
Mullum Woolies go-ahead draws flak The NSW Department of Planning’s approval on January 12 of modifications to the Woolworths supermarket planned for Mullumbimby has drawn flak from Byron Shire Council and Mullumbimby Community Action Network (MCAN). The first Council heard of the approval was when The Echo sent over the government press release. MCAN said it was ‘appalled that the state government has ignored Byron Shire Council’s condemnation of the proposal as “unacceptable”, the non-endorsement of the plans by Whitehead Associates Environmental Consultants and the passionate voice of the people. However, we have not seen the plans, documents and
Environmental Review. These have been kept a secret from community and we have seen nothing for seven months, since the public exhibition of the proposal on June 23, 2008. They are not even on the Department of Planning’s website. ‘We do not know what they and Woolworths have in store for us. We have been silenced by the Department of Planning’s lack of transparency. ‘As a community we can come together and let Woolworths know loud and clear that we object to their pigheadedness in going ahead with proposals that our Council says won’t work. Why don’t they wait for the new STP like everyone else has to? Who will clear up their sewage mess
when the flood comes?Why don’t they choose a better site? ‘This crisis is an opportunity for us to get more creative as a community. On February 2 there is a public meeting on Station Street land between Council and the preschool at 3.30pm. Council suggests affordable housing and other community and commercial uses and they want suggestions from us all. ‘How about a food co-op/farmers market/local products outlet as an alternative to the industrial growth monster? We need to come together and work with each other and our local shops to create resilience so we are not shattered by a big box imposed upon our town.’
An early start on Australia Day
Byron Shire Council said it was disappointed with the approval. Council’s Director of Planning, Development and Environment Services, Ray Darney, said Council has fought hard to voice the concerns of the community and ensure planning regulations are enforced. ‘This has been a long battle and once again it’s disappointing to see the NSW state government ignoring Council’s recommendations,’ Mr Darney said. ‘The effluent disposal is understated and the water cleaning usage is illogical and raises concerns about hygiene. ‘The approved development has allowed for only 250 litres of public effluent disposal which equates to only
25 customers using the public toilets on a daily basis. This is obviously of concern. ‘We acknowledge that Woolworths will be seeking to connect to the Brunswick Valley Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) upon the STP’s completion, however this will take at least two years. In the meantime they will be transporting excess effluent from the site during wet periods, which is against Council policy. ‘Likewise the stated water allowance of only 730 litres to clean the premises raises concerns about the cleaning process despite Woolworths claiming all meat preparation, bakery, fresh seafood and chicken cooking continued on page 7
Retirement village of 105 units planned for Ocean Shores Plans for a retirement village of 105 units at Ocean Shores have been lodged with Byron Shire Council. The village would be built on a thin strip of four lots between Kulgun Court and Brunswick Valley Way, the former Pacific Highway. Queensland-based applicants Green Gray Villages Seniors Project Pty Ltd say the development of oneto three-bedroom units would be
for active people over 55 living in a ‘serviced self-care’ village. The village would have an onsite manager, 24 hour emergency care and a private bus service. The parcel of land is variously zoned for residential, environmental habitat, and for investigation. The development application 10.2008.757.1 is on public exhibition until February 20.
Council takes ‘neutral’ stance on Splendour court case Byron Shire Council has chosen not to actively involve itself in the Land and Environment Court legal challenge brought by the Conservation of North Ocean Shores (CONOS) against Council’s approval to hold the 2009 Splendour in the Grass festival at Yelgun. At home among the gum trees and little blue flags, first timers to the extraordinary celebration that is Australia Day Council will instead maintain a at Brunswick Heads, the Tyzack family Rosie, Holly and Terry, enjoyed a snag and a song in the Housie tent along ‘watching brief ’ on the Splendour with hundreds of others who munched on a splendid breakfast made by the Lions and joined in Aussie tunes led by case and will submit to the findings Tracey Devine. As the day fell on The Echo’s production deadline, we had no time to make it to other events, but will of the Court. According to acting genreport on the citizen awards next week. Photo Eve Jeffery. eral manager Ray Darney, Council is
‘adopting a neutral position. If issues come up that Council needs to resolve perhaps we may need to change our position.’ Mr Darney also said that defending this type of case would be ‘inordinately expensive’. The Environmental Defender’s Office (EDO) is representing CONOS in its challenge against Council’s approval of the trial festival, and it is set down to be heard in the L&E Court continued on page 2