Chris Dobney
A new peak body of Byron shire organisations has used this morning’s public access meeting to hand the council a ‘report card’ based on what it says is its ‘epic failure’ to adhere to the Community Charter for Good Planning that it signed in 2014.
The new organisation, Community Alliance for Byron Shire (CABS) describes itself as ‘a collection of community groups who are dissatisfied with council’s unsatisfactory procedures and practices and the unplanned and unchecked development that is taking place across the shire.’
The body consists of ten existing resident groups, progress associations and action groups shire-wide, as well as some individual direct members.
CABS looked at the council’s processes and decisions on 20 key issues of the past 12 months against the five principles of the charter and found only one, the Byron Bay Masterplan, on which it addressed all five (click on image to enlarge).
Sunrise Residents Association’s Bethany Hudson, said CABS wanted to convey the message that the council ‘must put the community and environment first’.
‘The dissatisfaction, frustration and anger that people are feeling about what is happening in our shire has reached critical mass and we are all pulling together to make council accountable to us,’ she said
‘In December 2014, Council resolved to adopt the Better Planning Network’s Community Charter for Good Planning. Since then multiple decisions made by council have flown in the face of the principles outlined in the charter.
The group cited examples including:
- Council agreeing to allow a change of usage for rural land at Ewingsdale for 260 ‘retirement’ homes and a commercial development;
- The exclusion of the community from the decision to build a rock wall at Belongil;
- The censuring of a committed volunteer via a code of conduct complaint and the ignoring of serious breaches of the code by councilors; and
- Complex development applications being put on public exhibition for only 14 days.
‘Many of us in Byron shire feel we are being ignored by council. In some cases residents are being treated like nuisances and even opponents of some councillors and council staff. We are ratepayers and it is our shire,’ Ms Hundson said.
‘We deserve respect and outcomes that benefit the environment and the majority of the community — not just a handful of people who are in the long run will only take from Byron shire, not give.
‘We must see the Community Charter actually implemented. That means proper planning being done, underpinned by a growth management strategy that considers the environmental values and future needs of the shire and which involves genuine community participation in planning processes.’
Donald Maughan, president of the Suffolk Park Progress Association said his group had joined CABS largely as a show of support.
‘While I can’t say that there is a particular Suffolk issue at the moment, the proposed West Byron and Ewingsdale developments are issues that will impact on the greater Byron residents,’ he told Echonetdaily.
‘The “pro-development five” [councillors] just seem to be riding roughshod and we are concerned they could do so again, particularly in relation to the Broken Head Quarry, which has just submitted a new development application.
‘The Byron community has been divided and conquered by this council in the past and we are determined that’s not going to happen in the future. We support the whole Byron shire community. We need to think globally in terms of the shire,’ Mr Maughan said.
Congratulations . Good way to go. A truly consultative community would be a big step forward. We need to think out of the square and get back to the circle. Thanks for stepping up and for all your work. MatiJo Beams
Well done Echonetdaily for getting this important issue out so quickly.
As a representative of one of the 10 groups it was heartening to see so many white clad caring people turn out to show support and tell Council and Councillors, “Not Good Enough” A scorecard ‘Fail’ ‘You need to do much better’. Many of you on Council do not represent the majority of Shire residents who want the integrity and environment of this unique part of the planet preserved and not degraded and sold off to inappropriate development without consultation or due regard to the community or proper planning
We now assume that the Echo will ask the Mayor for a detailed answer to all the issues raised which they will publish.
There have always been so many concerned citizen in the Byron Shire. CABS is one way for them to unite to gain some impact. More power to you all to hold those in ” power” to account.
Well done. We are now pulling together for the good of ALL. Lets see what Mr Richardson, ‘Byron is an International Destination’ has to say about this.
A well organised thoughtful response by groups of people who truly care about the future of Byron Bay and can see beyond their own short termism and perceived need as would seem to be the case with several of the councillor’s . Thank you Echo for giving voice to these groups and I look forward to seeing the elected representatives held to account by those who elected them and fund the community.
Where do the Greens stand now that the community and virtually the whole shire has come out against mega developments. You are being watched like all other councilors parties and the ballot box will be the answer for all.