While the majority of residents in the north of Byron Shire have valid concerns about the development application for a festival site on environmentally sensitive land at Yelgun and are overwhelmingly against the DA, the planning department has seen fit to recommend this contentious development be approved.
What really upsets people is that the development is being assessed under dubious planning laws changed to suit the needs of developers by a government which was soundly rejected at the last election because of this behaviour. The former planning minister, Tony Kelly, is being investigated by ICAC for allegations he behaved in a corrupt manner.
The lack of competence, even outright corruption, by our politicians and bureaucrats is highlighted by the environmental assessment of the DA by the director of planning in which train services as a means of transport to the Yelgun site are referred to many times. The director is obviously unaware that there have been no train services to the area since 2004.
But despite the incompetence and possible corruption of the previous state government, the community is supposed to sit back and allow this contentious development to proceed and wear the collateral damage to the community, the wildlife and the environment.
Given the history of the Byron Shire community and the level of anger generated by this contentious development we will most likely see pigs fly first.
Louise Doran
Ocean Shores
