THE BYRON SHIRE Volume 29 #03 Tuesday, July 1, 2014 Phone 02 6684 1777 Fax 02 6684 1719 editor@echo.net.au adcopy@echo.net.au www.echo.net.au 23,200 copies every week
CAB AUDIT
Pages 18 – 19
PUBLIC ARENA BEAR PIT
Mary & Public Inside Clive and flying fish transport Al Show this – p13 needed – p12 – p10 week:
Yippee: It’s school holidays! – p16–17
Gromfest Galloping time! – gigs galore p20–21 – p27
Byron Shire Council Notices Page 41
Skywhale breaches at Splendour ‘Oversized’ Bangalow
development rejected again
Skywhale, created by famed Australian artist Patricia Piccinini, was given a run-through for its upcoming debut at the Splendour In The Grass Art Program, held as part of the festival from July 25 to 27. Photo Jeff Dawson
A legal showdown between the developers pushing for a largescale Bangalow mixed residentialcommercial building and Council is likely to return to the Land and Environment Court after councillors voted to reject a compromise proposal recommended by staff at last Thursday’s meeting. The two-storey building proposal is adjacent to the A&I Hall and would include eight dwellings, three shops with basement car park and an attic. It would take up almost the entire property. When the plans were initially revealed it riled residents, including the Bangalow School P&C, and public meetings were held in response. Residents claimed such a large-scale building would set a precedent and was not in keeping with the town’s low-key planning strategies. Crs Cubis, Woods and Hunter
voted against, while Crs Richardson, Cameron, Dey, Spooner, Ibrahim and Wanchap voted for the legal clash. The vote re-affirms a previous decision, which was based on concerns for ‘bulk and scale,’ among other factors. And despite some concessions by applicant Gordon Highlands, the development still contravenes Council’s development control plan (DCP). The vote comes despite staff recommending to approve it if the general manager undertook conciliation. Confidential legal advice was also presented. Ex-councillor and vocal opponent Jenny Coman told The Echo, ‘We are very proud of those councillors who supported their community by voting against the staff recommendation [to accept the development]. I know how difficult it is to do that and we thank them.’ Q Editorial page 10
Local Nationals MP mute over Bruns plans by govt Hans Lovejoy
‘A town square beheading without even letting the public bear witness,’ was how Byron Shire mayor Simon Richardson described the quiet adoption of large-scale development plans for Brunswick Heads holiday parks and reserves last week. And while fellow councillor Di Woods also condemned the contentious plans by the government-run NSW Crown Holiday Parks Trust corporation, our locally elected state representative, Don Page (Nationals), is remaining mute. When asked by The Echo for comment on the independent audit’s questionable findings about the public submission report, the retiring MP instead suggested that questions be passed back to the organisation that compiled the report. It’s unclear if Mr Page even read the submission report and subsequent audit; his
reply was, ‘[The Crown Holiday Parks Trust’s media officer] is in a much better position than I regarding any details.’ The mayor slammed the long-serving MP with, ‘I presume Don Page’s silence over the matter is due to utter embarrassment.’
Broken election promise Notwithstanding the 2006 holiday parks takeover by disgraced NSW minister Tony Kelly from Council and loss of revenue, the mayor also took aim at the government’s claims when elected that it would ‘put locals back in control of planning matters that affect them’. ‘Not only have the Brunswick Heads Plans of Management (POM) kept control over the holiday parks in the hands of the state government appointed “Trust” seeking the highest return; they have put the same operators in charge of ensuring compliance, the setting of public ac-
cess widths and overall reporting. For example, what was once public access that allowed fishing and picnicking, could, if the manager sees fit, be as narrow as 1.8 metres wide.’ Meanwhile Cr Woods told The Echo, ‘While some concessions have been made over all the parks, there is still no access being granted along the foreshore at The Terrace Reserve Caravan Park, but rather an adjusted plan for the public to walk through the park.’ According to the public submission report – which is of questionable validity due to the audit review – there were 80 supporting submissions to, ‘Provide public access to and along the foreshore at Terrace Reserve’. Cr Woods said river access and access outside the park boundary was a ‘major point’ from all the public submissions. She says another issue along the riverbank is the ‘continued erosion along the edge, which
is compounded by the permanent residents’ structures that almost hang over the edge.’ ‘The Trust representative said that the permanent residents along the edge of the river will be moved by natural attrition. ‘However, there has been a sale to a resident during the last couple of years, with no indication to the purchaser that their structure was in fact in a position that the Crown had previously informed Council during its control was inappropriate, and Council had been informed that the structure had to be moved and in fact had asked that Council relocate all the residents living in structures that were hanging over the edge of the river bank. ‘Council had begun the process, prior to the Crown assuming control of the parks. ‘Under the Trust’s management, it appears that they do not believe that this problem continued on page 2