The Northern Rivers Times Edition 131

NSW Govt announces dates for STRA public hearing

The NSW Independent Planning Commission (IPC) has announced the dates for its hearing into the Byron Shire Short Term Rental Accommodation (STRA) Planning Proposal.

The public hearing will be held from 21 to 23 February 2023 and the IPC is currently accepting submissions from the public.

The closing date for submissions is 2 March 2023.

People can also register to speak at the hearing. Registrations open on Monday 16 January and close at 5pm on Friday 10 February.

“This IPC hearing is the opportunity for Commissioners and the NSW Government, to hear directly from Council, stakeholders, and our articulate and informed community about their views on short term rental accommodation and its impact on the Byron Shire,” Byron Shire Mayor, Michael Lyon, said.

“Our desire to see STRA limited to 90 days in the majority

of the Byron Shire is balanced and reasonable.

“This is about mitigating the impacts of short term rental accommodation on permanent rental housing supply, as well as preserving the amenity and character of our towns and villages and communities.

“I believe it will also allow for a diverse and sustainable base of tourist accommodation to support our economy,” Mayor Lyon said.

“This is about finding a balance for our community, our businesses and the STRA sector where our community comes first, where visitors have somewhere to stay, and where workers, including those who service the tourism industry, have somewhere to live,” he said.

Information about making a submission or registering to speak at the public hearing is on the IPC website https://www. ipcn.nsw.gov.au/ projects/2022/12/ byron-shire-shortterm-rental-pp

TWISTS AND TURNS CONTINUE IN EFFORT TO REBUILD TYALGUM ROAD

By MARGARET DEKKER

Almost a year after flooding rains and two landslips destroyed sections of Tyalgum Road – the main road connecting Tyalgum village - Tweed Shire Council has agreed to let staff negotiate directly with tenderers for the huge repair job, estimated at costing in the order of $15-million dollars.

At an Extraordinary meeting of Council held just before Christmas, Council resolved it would “go on to negotiate with tenderers or with other companies” on both ‘design and value for money’ to try and meet Transport NSW’s capped funding for the urgent works.

Councillors agreed with a recommendation to authorise Council’s General Manager Troy Green to delegate authority to the relevant Council department, which will allow final discussions on design and construction to be held without having to go back to the Councillors for further approval.

The move will allow Council’s flood recovery team to work through various issues connected with restoring Tyalgum Road, the site of the Tweed’s largest and most complicated landslip caused by the 2022 floods.

“Not accepting the tender today leaves us in

Tyalgum Road, connecting isolated Tyalgum village, remains impassable

a position to be able to make sure we get the best outcome in the long run for Tyalgum, so I hope the people of Tyalgum

can have a little more patience as we organise that,” Cr Chris Cherry Tweed Mayor told the Extraordinary Meeting of Council on December 22.

“This is an incredibly important tender to go forward,” she said.

The Northern Rivers Times understands tenders reached the upper limit of the funding cap for Tyalgum Road and applying for more State funding would only draw out an already long process.

“There is a pathway to get extra funding, but

An aerial photo taken in February shows the scale and fragile nature of the landslip around Tyalgum Road Source: TSC Facebook

it is a slower process,” Council was advised.

Tim Mackney, Manager of Infrastructure Delivery with Council said

the complexity of the Tyalgum Road slip had been a huge challenge for contractors bidding for the work and analysis of the site had taken considerable time.

“We have had positive discussions and consultations with the contractors, but there are still some issues which have to be resolved to ensure the restoration work is appropriate,” Mr Mackney said.

It is hoped negotiations with bidders on the Tyalgum Road landslip will be completed early

this year.

Reserve Creek Road works finally begin

At the same Extraordinary meeting, Council awarded original Tweed construction firm, SEE Civil Pty Ltd the $6 million tender ($5,978,367) to design and construct the repair of Reserve Creek Road between Cudgera Creek and Murwillumbah which suffered a significant landslip in the February flood.

“I’m sure they (local residents) will be very excited to see these works start, and begin over the Christmas period,” Cr Chris Cherry Tweed Mayor said.

Tim Mackney said awarding the Reserve Creek Road tender and Council’s approval to finalise the contract for Tyalgum Road are both very welcome and good news.

“We appreciate this has been a difficult period for residents at both sites, but Reserve Creek Road and Tyalgum Road have presented significant engineering and marketbased challenges and we thank the communities for their patience,” Tim Mackney, Manager of Infrastructure Delivery TSC, said.

Locals who’ve previously relied on Reserve Creek Road, will welcome SEE Civil’s creation of temporary access roads early in the reconstruction phase.