THE BYRON SHIRE Volume 30 #14 Wednesday, September 16, 2015
www.echo.net.au Phone 02 6684 1777 editor@echo.net.au adcopy@echo.net.au 23,200 copies co iees every week
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IF IGNORANCE IS BLISS THEN KNOWLEDGE IS TORTURE
CAB AUDIT
Buckle up – You? Of course it’s Council meet about you – it’s the this week! 21st century – p16, 17
Mullum circus fest! – p18, 19
If only there were a way to tackle climate change…
Is Mullumbimby ready to live in a clean, all-renewable future? A new group of activists believe so, and are inviting everyone to their community awareness day launch on Sunday, October 18 at Mullumbimby Civic Hall, from 4pm to 10pm. Known as COREM (Community-Owned Renewable Energy Mullumbimby), the group are planning panels, forums, information stalls, food and entertainment. Speakers include Katrina Shields, mayor Simon Richardson, SEED, ENOVA, Kindred Youth, Rainbow Power and more. Visit www.corem.org.au for more info. Pictured are president Ella Goninan, Tim Hodgeson, Rob Passey and Dave Rawlins. Photo Jeff Dawson
Roundhouse lots all sold by 11am Fancy a large 1,576m2 block with views in the best spot in Ocean Shores for $330,000? Sorry, but it sold the same morning it went on sale, like the rest of the eleven Roundhouse lots. While that block was one of the lower prices offered by Byron Shire Council, it did spark calls from residents to The Echo that the prices offered were too low. Regardless, the final sale ends a long and protracted battle between residents wanting to retain the site for community use, and Council, who say the money will go toward infrastructure in the suburb. Realtor at Brunswick Profession-
als, Suzanne Eatwell, was commissioned to sell the property and told The Echo that Byron Shire Council independently evaluated the Roundhouse blocks. ‘Regarding pricing, it was Council’s call, and they made a decision based on this valuation.
Queue to buy ‘We had a client fly up from Sydney who arrived over 24 hours before the blocks went on sale. ‘We also had local residents coming into the office during the day taking a place in the queue. ‘One of our staff members stayed overnight to ensure that if a person came to the office during the night
that they did not queue jump. ‘The blocks went on sale at 8.30am, and all of the blocks were sold by 11am. Owing to the build up between when they went to market in late 2013 and now, this has led to keen and committed buyers being ready for the day.’ Byron Shire Council’s general manager Ken Gainger told The Echo, ‘Council was very fortunate in that interest in the blocks was strong. It’s a good result with all of the blocks achieving their maximum valuation totalling $4.405 million. The net proceeds of the sales will now primarily be invested back into community infrastructure.’
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All things vintage, and well, cool – p20
Online in
netdaily
MO zonings being ‘abolished by stealth’ www.echo.net.au/multiple-occupancyzonings-being-abolished-by-stealth/
Train resisted Hans Lovejoy
With a Byron Bay train station and shed development application (DA) up before Council this Thursday, residents and businesses along the Belongil stretch have again amplified their opposition to the rail project. Elements Of Byron plan to run a diesel rail service along the disused corridor from the $100m resort in Belongil into Byron CBD, but has been met by consistent resistance over its hourly service frequency and a lack of environmental and amenity impact studies. Those residents and businesses have also described the project as a ‘greenwash’, a term to describe a development presented with the appearance of environmental credentials. Council staff support the DA, and their report tabled this week claims 69 public submissions were against, while 42 were for the proposal. A resident most likely to be affected is Bethany Hudson, whose house and bedroom would be within metres of one of the stations. In a letter to councillors, she says, ‘I am directly, irreversibly affected by this in a life-changing way and I hope councillors [can] acknowledge this.’ And a half-page advertisement appears on page 13 to refute claims made by the proponent’s previous ad last week. One of the more interesting aspects is the unclear approval process for its operation and identifying who is the consent authority. Mayor Simon Richardson, an advocate for the service, told The Echo previously that Council could only approve the station and shed DAs,
yet it’s become now clear that Council could have overall input, particularly with environmental considerations. A letter from the environmental protection agency (EPA) to a resident says that as the proposal is on a line less than 30km, the EPA believes that, ‘Council is the consent authority.’ In reply, the mayor said that if correct, it was a good thing that Council will make the decision. Byron Shire Council’s director of sustainable planning and economy, Shannon Burt, confirmed with The Echo that she is in discussion with the applicant and Transport for NSW, ‘about whether it would be considered exempt development under the State Environmental Planning Policy [SEPP].’ ‘If not, a development application will be required for the railway corridor works, and the environmental factors and amenity will form part of the application,’ she said. And yet environmental assessments appear to be on the table; project manager Jeremy Holmes told The Echo that they are required to undertake a ‘baseline contamination investigation prior to the commencement of any works to ascertain any contamination such as asbestos and whether such contaminants may be disturbed, and if so how they will be managed.’ ‘This is required as a condition of the licence,’ he said. As for the consideration of relocating the station owing to its close proximity to residents, Mr Holmes replied it had been explored, ‘in intricate detail’. ‘[It] was not a suitable location for a number of practical, physical continued on page 2
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