Byron Shire Council has been rolling out recycling and green waste bins in towns across the shire in recent months – except in Bangalow.
Apparently the reason is that the good burghers of Bangalow don’t want their streetscape defiled by the type of bins that are good enough for Byron Bay, Brunswick Heads and Mullumbimby.
So council staff have come up with a ‘Bangalow Public Place Bin working group’ (yes, folks, you read it here first) to work out the best locations for ‘refurbished heritage-style recycling bin enclosures’.
The working group is made up of representatives from the Chamber of Commerce, Progress Association, Historical Society and the Bangalow Village Plan Guidance Group.
A council spokesperson said, ‘The original heritage-style bins are not manufactured anymore. Council will be installing dual waste and recycling enclosures that match, as best as possible, the original style of bins.
‘We have gone so far as to recast the Bangalow Palm emblem on the side of the bins,’ the spokesperson added.
Staff have also investigated the potential of having green bins in public spaces but say that as Bangalow has only a small number of takeaways which are spread along the main street and taking into account space constraints on the footpath, staff do not believe the ‘green’ bins would not be well used.’
Council expects the new bins will be installed in early May.
I think they look good , or at least not ugly .
Its not that big a deal but instead of criticizing Bangalow for wanting to
maintain its particular heritage appeal , why not roll them out in other places as well .
As one of the people on the group I have been most impressed with the care that Council staff have taken to consult not only ‘the burghers of the town’ but also Heritage House and residents.
The main street of Bangalow is in a Conservation Protection Area and that deserves to be respected and considered. It’s not easy hanging on to heritage, and in this case Council have been exemplary. Our main street is much narrower than any other main street, and the visual impact of bins proportionally greater.
Chris Dobney I usually really value your journalism and I enjoy your writing, but this piece is just a bit ‘off.’ I expect more of you than this kind of cheap shot.
I wonder if you would have taken a similar cheap shot at Jack Mundey and the NSW Builders Labourers Federation who, back in the 70s, saved The Rocks precinct in Sydney from inappropriate development. I was there. Bigger scale, same problem.
The erosion of heritage value can be incremental. In Bangalow’s narrow heritage main street the bins matter.
I totally agree with you Jenny Bird. I moved to Bangalow nine years ago, because of the Heritage look of the town. Please listen up Chris Dobney.