The Byron Shire Echo – Issue 34.37 – February 19, 2020

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C O M M U N I T Y A R T P R OJ E C T S I N C E 1 9 8 6 The Byron Shire Echo • Volume 34 #37 • Wednesday, February 19, 2020 • www.echo.net.au

Greens councillors push Where high growth agenda surf meets Hans Lovejoy

The ‘current strong business and employment growth’ of the region is driving Council’s push to open up large contentious rural land for future development. Plans to rezone around 40 hectares of rural lands for commercial and potential residential use in Byron Shire will be again thrashed out at the upcoming Council meeting on February 20 in the Mullum chambers. While the controversial Business and Industrial Lands Strategy was adopted on December 12, 2019, independent Crs Catherine Coorey and Basil Cameron, along with Labor’s Cr Jan Hackett, have lodged a motion to rescind the strategy. They want to remove the controversial Saddle Road precinct and redraft the strategy to include an ‘overarching servicing and delivery framework’ and growth scenarios, among other issues. Greens mayor Simon Richardson and Labor’s Paul Spooner inexplicably voted for its adoption, despite voting against a similar large-scale rezoning strategy while in opposition during the Council 2012–2016 term. Like the previous Rural Land Use Strategy (DRLUS) in 2016, the current plan is fraught with geographical constraints, has raised concerns in government agencies and contain late inclusions that lacked public comment. Both Crs Richardson and Spooner reject the question of hypocrisy, given their support of this new policy, now they are in power. If adopted Thursday, land around the Byron Central Hospital may

be rezoned and staff will be given powers to approve ‘spot rezonings’. Cr Coorey told The Echo if the strategy is approved, ‘It says to our community that we know better than all the data we have, the business community that we consulted, the findings of the consultants we asked to advise us, and the broader community who made submissions’.Â

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žĆ?ĂŤÇ” ſĕşĹ&#x;ĹżĆ? ŞƖĕƆĆ?ÄśĹ&#x;ŕĕĎ Within the upcoming agenda, chief Council planner Shannon Burt claims, ‘A parcel’s inclusion in [the] strategy does not automatically mean it will be zoned for business or industry.’ It’s a claim that has been repeated by the mayor and Cr Sarah Ndiaye, yet is rejected by former Greens mayor and NSW MLC, Jan Barham. Burt is yet to reply to The Echo’s question of how Council can prevent a developer – who has land flagged under this policy – from lodging large DAs before the NSW planning panel or the courts. Barham is also critical of Burt’s report in the agenda and its justifications. Further to concerns that councillors are ignoring process, local Greens MP Tamara Smith has told The Echo that such a strategy is ‘putting the cart before the horse’ in terms of strategic planning. She says, ‘Before the 2019 state election, I called for a pause on rezoning land in Byron Shire until sufficient long term and strategic planning was completed. ‘This was similar to what the member for Ryde and Ryde Council â–ś Continued on page 2

Pictured are Cupid & the Stupids, who were just one of the acts who performed at Byron Surf Fest, held last weekend. Fest director, James McMillan, told The Echo, ‘It was a really successful weekend, blessed with perfect weather and surf after two weeks of 500mm of rain. Everyone was so stoked to be outdoors surfing, seeking and celebrating all things surf culture. The local community, as well as Hawaiian, Japanese, French and Brazilian surfers and artists joined in on the BBSF ten-year anniversary festival at Wategos beach and Byron Bay Brewery. Couldn’t have asked for better. Lots of smiling faces and stoked souls!’ Photo @col_elmore

Byron is a natural disaster area Parts of the Shire’s road network were also closed owing to flooding.

While large rain-dumps across the region were welcomed last week, the impacts on the road networks and infrastructure have resulted in Byron Shire being declared a natural disaster area. As one of 56 local government areas to be affected across NSW, Council say disaster assistance will be made available from the federal and NSW governments. Council staff responded to emergencies last week, including trees over roads and drainage problems.

Water restrictions lifted Meanwhile, water utility Rous County Council say that Rocky Creek Dam, which supplies much of the north coast, is now full, with more than 300mm flowing over the spillway last Thursday morning. All water restrictions are now lifted, including in all Byron Shire towns and Mullumbimby, which is supplied in part by Lavertys Gap

weir in Wilsons Creek. That weir is also at capacity, say Council. A Rous spokesperson said, ‘Rainfall readings for Rocky Creek Dam show that in the first six weeks of 2020, we have had the same amount of rainfall recorded in 2019’. Regardless of lifted restrictions, Rous say they will continue to keep the community’s focus on reducing water consumption, ‘so that in the event of another extended dry spell, we can be in a better position’.

Byron Shire Do you vote Green? Nats implode in Bruns A beautiful Council Then read this shower of coal looking good perspective on Notices ▜ p8 ▜ p10 ▜ p17 Bangalow ▜ p19 and pork ▜ p10

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