Managers of the soon-to-be-opened $100m Elements Of Byron resort have played down fears that a DA modification – now extended for public submission – significantly expands existing floor space for 96 of its 193 cabins.
Modifications to car parking and roads are also proposed, as well as 22,000 cubic metres of fill.
The Sunrise Residents Group and Byron Residents’ Group told The Echo they protested to Byron Shire Council over the ‘meagre’ 14 days given to the public to respond to the plans, and were granted an extension until December 30.
Elements manager Jeremy Holmes says an 11.5 per cent increase in total cabin space is proposed ‘across the whole site, including stage one cabins.’
‘The number of cabins and bedrooms is identical to the approved development,’ he said, adding that there is no additional accommodation planned.
As for claims by the groups that the floor area of the central facilities is proposed to be increased by 120 per cent, Mr Holmes replied, ‘This was subject to a completely separate application assessed and approved by council in 2013.’
Cate Coorey from the Byron Residents’ Group also said, ‘it is proposed to fill 3.6ha of land to a depth of 0.5–0.7m (or deeper) with a volume of 22,000 cubic metres adjacent to waterways and creek tributaries.’
In reply, Mr Holmes said, ‘This minimal layer of fill across the middle cleared area of the site will assist with overland water flows and has no impact on the waterways or flood modelling.’
Environmental studies
There is also dispute as to the studies undertaken on the environmentally sensitive site. Conservationist Dailan Pugh said, ‘The site is a significant wildlife corridor and the proposed changes will have significant impacts on Wallum frogs, koalas and the Endangered Ecological Community littoral rainforest that deserve to be fully and properly assessed.’
Mr Holmes replied, ‘All of these ecological issues have been analysed and addressed in detail and the development will have no significant or detrimental environmental impact. In fact, by modifying the existing development approval, NBBR will be relocating the approved cabins from the littoral rainforest to the cleared area of the site. There is absolutely no encroachment on the littoral rainforest.’
Submissions by Dec 30
Adrian Nelson from the Sunrise Residents Group encourages ‘everyone who fought against overdevelopment of this site to make a submission calling for a new DA and appropriate planning and environmental assessment.’
Public submissions close 4pm December 30 and can be emailed to [email protected].
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