18.1 C
Byron Shire
June 4, 2026
Letters

Affordable housing at market rates?

By The Echo

Latest News

Local NewsThe Echo - 0

Flood-impacted homeowners get an extension on assistance

Flood-impacted homeowners across the Northern Rivers and Central West will have more time to make decisions to raise or retrofit homes, says the NSW government, with an  extension to the Resilient Homes Program timelines announced.
Read more

Other News

Local NewsThe Echo - 0

Crofton Rd to be fixed more than 4 years after damage

Another infrastructure repair project in response to damage caused by the Northern Rivers floods and landslides disasters more than four years ago has been announced.
Read more
The Good LifeThe Echo - 0

Stout Blackout Blowout at Earth Beer

Nestled among the rolling green hills of Cudgen, just minutes from Kingscliff on the Tweed Coast, Earth Beer Company...
Read more
Local NewsThe Echo - 0

Conversations in the Pub starts with Janelle Saffin

Conversations in the Pub – Lismore’s new civic meet-up – kicks off on Friday 19 June with its inaugural special guest, the NSW Minister for Small Business, Minister for Recovery, Minister for the North Coast and Member for Lismore Janelle Saffin MP.
Read more
Byron EchoMandy Nolan - 0

Mandy Nolan’s Soapbox: Saying Goodbye to a Very Handsome Man

Last week an old friend of mine died. His name was Gary Cook. We met here in Byron Bay, when I was 23. He would have been in his early 30s. He was handsome. And funny. And weird. And self-involved. He used to come to Ringos, where I worked as a waitress. He’d sing to himself, bludge cigarettes, and shine up the serviette holder. He loved looking at himself. He’d laugh and say, ‘God, I’m a handsome man,’ and then he’d laugh this really infectious laugh
Read more
Local NewsThe Echo - 0

Free disability workshops 3 and 4 June

On June 3 and 4, the Physical Disability Council of NSW (PDCN) is partnering with the locally based Disability Advocacy NSW (DA) to deliver two days of free, engaging events in the Northern Rivers. 
Read more
Local NewsThe Echo - 0

Tweed Shire fisher faces court

A Tweed Shire commercial fisher pleaded guilty last week to six offences in relation to illegal fishing activity.
Read more

Councillor Paul Spooner explained to me (on Saturday), the Mullum Station street land will be sold at market value. It will not be sold for less to help establish affordable housing.

So what are the odds, North Coast Community Housing will come up with an affordable housing development plan (with no private sale and at least 20 per cent lower rent than the market) with a big tree on it and be able to pay the full market value for the land?

We see this idea failed a few years ago, when this same site had plans drawn up for affordable housing and included the sale of a few private apartments to subsidise the development. Does the new plan allow for the development and sale of private apartments to subsidise the affordable housing?

Jason Lasky, South Golden Beach.

Previous articleMotorcyclist killed in head-on crash at Numulgi
Next articleLocals determined to fight CSG project in Pilliga forest

For four decades The Echo has printed the stories some people loved, some people hated, and some pretended not to read. If you want us to keep telling the truth, the real truth, not the sugar-coated version. We’ll need your support to keep the presses rolling.

If you are a local business owner help us and in turn we help you. All The Echo asks for is advertising, not a free ride. It is every advert in The Echo and on www.echo.net.au, which creates the space for all the stories and coverage of community events, happenings and concerns.

If you are a reader you can become a sponsor of The Echo. Your support keeps the us independent.

Even a small one-off or regular donation from you will help keep the echo’s independent voice alive and strong.

Support Us

Become one of the supporters who helps keep independent, local journalism alive in the Byron Shire by contributing anything from as little as the cost of a coffee each month.

You're Wonderful, Thank you for supporting independent journalism in the Byron Shire

You’re supporting The Echo, thank you

Your contribution is keeping independent, local journalism alive in the Northern Rivers.

Because of supporters like you, we can keep every story free for everyone — no paywall, no exceptions. Your money goes directly to funding our newsroom of 40-odd local workers covering the stories that matter to this community.

Tell us what you think, give us your opinion

The Echo loves your letters and comments and is proud to provide a community forum on the issues that matter most to our readers and the people of the NSW north coast. So don’t be a passive reader, email us your epistles at editor@echo.net.au.

The letters deadline for The Echo is noon Friday. Letters longer than 200 words may be cut. The publication of letters is at the discretion of the letters editor. Please remember to include your full name, address and telephone number.

Online comments are no longer available.

Local News

Latest chuckle of stand ups stake to the stage

The Echo - 0
After stepping away from the role for 12 months, Mandy Nolan returned to Byron Adult Education to teach what Mandy believes is the best, and possibly most successful stand up comedy course in the country. 
Read more
Byron Echo

Mullum Giants celebrate Old Boys Day

Sarah Archibald - 0
Sunday, 31 May saw everyone having some fun as the sun finally shone at the Mullumbimby Giants games which included the Old Boys Day. Photos by Sarah Archibald.
Read more
Byron Echo

Return of Ford NSW Open Regional Qualifier at Teven Golf Club

The Echo - 0
Teven Golf Club will again host the opening event of the 2026 Ford NSW Open Regional Qualifying Series, with elite players from across Australia...
Read more
Byron Echo

Byron Shire mens Rebels suffer first defeat at the hands of Wollongbar

Hywel David - 0
Hywel David It was a mixed day out at Pioneer Park in Wollongbar-Alstonville on a sunny Saturday, with the Rebels colts and women’s rugby union...
Read more

More Articles Like This

Community housing should be primary focus for Mullum Hospital site

Editorial Aslan Shand - 0
The community frustration at Byron Shire Council was palpable on Monday night as they sought to understand why the draft development control plan (DCP) for the former Mullumbimby Hospital site failed so effectively at reflecting all the contributions they had made to the process.
Read more

Byron Council moves for housing MOU with state

Local News The Echo - 0
The Byron Shire Council says a proposed Memorandum of Understanding with the state’s housing department will focus on more social and affordable housing.
Read more

Byron councillors ignore 2,400 residents, reiterate support for Mullum affordable housing development site

Local News Paul Bibby - 0
A former Byron Shire councillor who sat in on internal workshops about Council’s affordable housing development on Station Street, Mullumbimby says the developer was quietly told to make the project as big as possible so that it would be economically viable.
Read more

Mullum residents reject large Landcom/Council DA

Local News Hans Lovejoy - 0
Residents have come out overwhelmingly against a proposal by NSW government development corporation Landcom, and Council, to plonk oversized ‘affordable housing’ units on a busy Mullumbimby carpark near the town’s entrance.
Read more

Support Us

Become one of the supporters who helps keep independent, local journalism alive in the Byron Shire by contributing anything from as little as the cost of a coffee each month.

You're Wonderful, Thank you for supporting independent journalism in the Byron Shire