THE BYRON SHIRE
SCHOOL HOLIDAYS
Volume 30 #43 Wednesday, April 6, 2016
www.echo.net.au Phone 02 6684 1777 editor@echo.net.au adcopy@echo.net.au 23,200 copies every week
P E E K I N G T H R O U G H T H E C R A C K S I N PA R A D I S E
CAB AUDIT
Farewell Bob Ellis – p8
Phillip Frazer’s US Presidential election circus – p13
Mary Gardner reports on shark spotters – p11
netdaily Ballina rejects report from shark experts
Online in
www.echo.net.au/ballina-rejects-reportfrom-south-african-shark-experts/
Council to mull over Diversity and colour $34m coastal works Hans Lovejoy
Are the public happy to lose Belongil beach to around 34 private landowners? That reality continues to unfold after consultants preparing a management strategy for the beach say a seawall and groynes are still the best ‘economic’ option. The long-awaited draft Coastal Zone Management Plan Byron Bay Embayment, or CZMP BBE, will be tabled at this Thursday’s Council meeting. And while it’s incomplete and bases some of its research on assumptions, it’s likely to be accepted by the ruling council faction and put out on public exhibition as quickly as possible. The minority councillors have been highly critical of the process, claiming that the report is authored by a company whose core business is designing coastal engineering solutions. And thus, they could be biased against other options such as planned retreat.
Desired outcomes Remarkably the plan admits that ‘some assumptions’ are required for ‘desired outcomes’ and does not take into account ‘ecological impacts, value of surfing and visual amenity impacts’. Nor is there any details regarding the suggestion for sand nourishment, which will be required to replenish Belongil beach. While the focus is on Belongil, the draft CZMP BBE also covers other areas: Wategos, the Pass, Clarkes Beach, Main Beach and Cavvanbah.
The Echo understands that for 12 years Council have operated without a CZMP. Most recently, the issue was shrouded in legal confidentiality when the last draft CZMP was inexplicably withdrawn amid legal threats by Belongil landowners in April 2011. Given rock-type structures erode beaches over time, consultants Water Research Laboratory (WRL) have hosed down the loss of public amenity by stating there are a ‘range of usable public beaches’ that will still be available within the 37km of the shire’s coastline.
Land value up 40pc Regardless, the likelihood of protection is good news for landowners; WRL told councillors in a recent workshop that land values since July 2015 have increased 40 per cent, which is ‘up to 140 per cent increase since commencement of study.’
Protection cost $15m The cost of protecting Belongil landowners, according to WRL, would be $15m in the first year, and then be $34m over a ten-year construction phase. For the first year, WRL suggest landowners pay $12m, Council $1m and the state government $2m. For the ten-year plan, WRL suggest $21m (62 per cent) should be paid by landowners and the public would stump up the other $13m. Council would use $6m of ratepayer’s money and the state government would contribute $7m of public funds. The contentious plan led by Cr continued on page 3
Lilith, Corinne, Agung, Tjintana, Lelani and Moana enjoy diversity and colour at Saturday’s Harmony Day, held at Apex Park in Byron. Photo Jeff Dawson
Issues remain for big Ewingsdale development A large-scale seniors housing and commercial precinct is before Council again this Thursday April 7 and, according to staff, the draft DCP submitted by the developer includes ‘issues not previously considered’. The 15-hectare proposal would surround the new Byron Central Hospital on Ewingsdale Road, and has been slowly working its way through the approval process. But the latest plan would require a ‘significant rework’, staff say, before Council can consider its release for public exhibition. Developers John and Leigh Belbeck from Belbeck investments are asking Council to amend the Byron
LEP 2014 ‘to enable seniors housing, medical centre, business premises, restaurants and cafes, and shops.’ The report by director of sustainable environment and economy Shannon Burt and development planning officer Christopher Soulsby highlights the many issues that have dogged the proposal from the start.
No strategic planning Inadequate traffic management plans have been flagged again, as has the lack of an overarching strategic planning strategy for the site. Strategic planning is the third tier of planning ‘instruments’, after the LEP and DCP. Other surrounding
shires operate with these; however, Byron Council is yet to adopt one. It is expected that the draft residential strategy will be presented to Council by June 2016. Strong community opposition was also mentioned in the report. In an effort to move forward, Ms Burt and Mr Soulsby recommend proceeding with a Voluntary Planning Agreement (VPA), which would see the developer fund a roundabout at the McGettigans Lane intersection with Ewingsdale Road. So how did it get to this stage? The contentious project was endorsed by the controlling Council continued on page 2
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