THE BYRON SHIRE Volume 29 #24 Tuesday, November 25, 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
Inside Younger gen Council plots its next this mobilises over move to improve the week Byron’s future – p11 community – p9
New Byron plaza given green light Chris Dobney & Hans Lovejoy
A large-scale ‘green star’ redevelopment of the southern end of the Byron Woolies plaza has been approved by Council. And despite it breaking height restrictions for the town by around 10 per cent, Greens mayor Simon Richardson gave it a glowing endorsement throughout Thursday’s Council debate (seven votes to two). The existing cinema, carpark and shopping centre will be redeveloped to create a 3,400 square metre mall called Mercato on Byron, and will include a ground-floor supermarket, first-floor retail shops, restaurants, a bowling ally, an art gallery, a sevencinema complex, two-level basement car parking and a terrace over the Jonson Street road reserve. A centrally located roof feature will provide natural light and ventilation, contributing to the greenstar rating but placing the building above the set height limit. Cr Richardson told The Echo that ‘No-one will see it from the street, and the height means a natural air vent will be in place instead of just air-conditioning.’ QLD-based developer Robert Badalotti previously put forward plans that were criticised by the public and the mayor as not befitting the town’s character. But the current design has gained the mayor’s complete support. ‘We are lucky the proponents agreed to consider community concerns,’ he said. ‘It’s a great position for a developer to start with. Council
and the proponents worked together to get a five-star green-star building, the only one in regional Australia: a building with an art gallery and public spaces,’ Cr Richardson said. ‘I think it is the best we can get within the parameters; it’s a great testament to [planning director] Ray Darney and planning staff. ‘It’s a great template for future developments and says to developers, “If you’re content with maybe a bit less and give us something the community wants, Council is prepared to be flexible”. ‘As a council and staff, we are reshaping how we deal with community opportunities in our town,’ the mayor said. He added he thought he would never find himself spruiking a shopping plaza redevelopment.
Possible toxic soils With the building being situated on potentially radioactive tailings, The Echo asked Council’s planning director Ray Darney what remediation works would be undertaken to mitigate the result of decades of sand mining in the town. He told The Echo that part of the consent approval conditions required soil monitoring throughout the construction process. ‘If toxicity issues arise, the developer will be required to remediate the site to limit any further contamination.’
Fast food clause And as part of the consent conditions, Council has sought to prevent major multinational fast food chains continued on page 2
Illegal letting Shopping At home under fire locally & in the – p13 – p18–19 garden – p21
Byron Shire Council Notices Page 43–44
You and the night and Mullum music
Sound and colour were everywhere for the seventh annual Mullum Music Festival, held over the weekend. Quality music, art, food and street performance spread around over a dozen venues and the shared community experience for both locals and musicians gave the town a great atmosphere. Meanwhile, police equipped with riot gear, horses and sniffer dogs were on hand to maintain the millennials in Byron Bay as Schoolies kicked off. Pictured is festival patron, Harry Angus, during Sunday’s parade. Photo Jeff ‘Blow Hard’ Dawson. Q More photos on page 31. See Sharon Shostak’s documentary on the festival at
Tallowood moves to protect forested areas In an effort to protect the ridgeline overlooking Tallowood residential development in Mullumbimby, reduced lots and residential sizes for stage 3C have been announced. One of the estate’s developers, Eric Freeman, told The Echo that he met with Council staff Friday to come to the revised plan that ‘considerably reduces the size of the three lots proposed in Stage 3C and places the parts of the land in stage 3C that are forested to now be incorporated into the shelter belt along the ridgeline.’ The amendment comes after resi-
dents voiced concerns about new blocks that had been released for sale on the ridgeline. They feared the area, which is known as a wildlife corridor, would be reduced in size owing to the block sizes being proposed. Adding to residents’ concerns is a NSW bill aimed at reducing fire hazards. It sparked fears of habitat loss with large-scale clearing near homes in the Sydney suburb of Hornsby, among others. Minister Brad Hazzard’s comment on The Rural Fires Amendment (Vegetation
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Clearing) Bill 2014 at the time was, ‘people before trees is the priority.’ Meanwhile Mr Freeman said, ‘Council officers present at the meeting welcomed the amendment, as it removes the issue of “potential damage to trees on the ridgeline”. ‘Council will now consider the new plan in detail and will refer the proposed design to the NSW Rural Fire Service. Once the comments of the Rural Fire Service are received, a final determination will be made.’ Mr Freeman added the new blocks will be ‘pegged as soon as continued on page 2
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