THE BYRON SHIRE 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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Volume 24 #45 Tuesday, April 20, 2010
page 18
CROUCHING HACK, HIDDEN SNAPPER
Tallowood still on protesters’ radar
Protesters gathered last Saturday at the proposed Tallowood Ridge Estate subdivision site at Mullumbimby to reinforce their call for residents to attend a Land and Environment Court hearing at the Byron Bay courthouse on Wednesday April 28. Photo Eve Jeffery Michael McDonald
Objectors to the proposed Tallowood Ridge Estate subdivision at Mullumbimby are calling for residents to gather outside the Byron Bay courthouse on Wednesday April 28 for a three day Land and Environment Court hearing on the proposal, the first 31 lot stage of which was knocked back by Byron Shire Council. Objectors want to ‘remind the court of our concerns and to show the court that the community supports Council in wishing to protect biodiversity and rural amenity’. Objectors also want ‘to ensure the vacant council road reserve, or paper
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road, on the southern side of the development becomes the green buffer, as Council intended, between existing rural residential properties and the proposed urban development. The developers want to build an access road along the ridgeline rather than use their own lands as previously proposed. Council and the community want to see this area reforested to keep the ridgeline free from development. ‘The community also wishes to send a clear message to protect existing vegetation including significant old growth trees. These are directly threatened by proposed house blocks. Another 200 trees have recently been
marked and their future is unknown. As there is currently no transparency in the development it is unclear if the ridge will be cleared for a road to link with the proposed subdivision entrance to Brushbox Drive. ‘The community had been asking for full disclosure of the master plan of the development to allow for a period community consultation and feedback but were advised by the developer that he had no obligation to do so under special condition granted by the State Department of Planning. We understand the [L&E Court] commissioner has also asked for a master plan, however this means that it gets presented to the court without the
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chance of community dialogue.’ According to resident Deborah Lilly, ‘If a masterplan is not done, then S96 contributions from the developer in relation to small lot sizes such as 31 lots (the first stage) will not provide enough funds for the needed infrastructure, such as traffic calming devices in the 50k section of Left Bank Road.’ In addition, resident Dave Rawlins said, ‘It is evident that in order to maximise profits the developers wish to fight Council and the community to force through their inappropriate development. During the entire process there has been lack of disclosure.
Rate increase in shire plan The 2010-2013 Draft Management Plan and Budget is on public exhibition until 10 May 2010. Byron Shire Mayor Jan Barham said the draft plan details the services and programs to be delivered by Council along with an overview of capital works planned for 2010/11. ‘It’s a challenging budget for this upcoming financial year,’ she said in a press release. ‘The recently announced rate pegging of 2.6 per cent by the NSW government makes it impossible to maintain the level of service expected by our residents and ratepayers. ‘A 2.6 per cent cap does not cover the real costs that Council experiences and doesn’t allow for increases in electricity, wages and equipment. Unfortunately, the continual cost shifting from the state government to local councils will mean a special rate application for Council for the upcoming financial year.’ Council is seeking a 6.98% special rate increase for 2010/11. The rate increase on the general fund will be used for one million dollars’ worth of services and programs including the new Byron Bay Library $100,000, Byron Sport and Cultural Complex $120,000, Byron Regional Sport and Cultural Complex maintenance $186,000, increased regional library contribution $84,000, information technology enhancements $195,000, contribution to emergency services (RFS, lifesaving, SES etc) $175,000, beach scraping at New Brighton $130,800, Watego’s Walking Track $50,000, and matching funding for bikeways construction $55,200. For an average residential property, a 6.98% special rate increase is
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