Leko De Almeida, Mullumbimby
Our community sheds are non-profit organisations that originated in Australia, to advise and improve the overall health of all men.
They normally operate on a local level in the community, promoting social interaction and aim to increase quality of life.
Indeed, a great cause and totally necessary.
Mullumbimby currently has two organisations with the same purpose, U3A Men’s Shed located at the Showgrounds and Mullumbimby Repair Café located at the Community College.
On June 22 I received a letter from BSC that drew my attention to a Notification of DA by The Community Gardens (Lot 22 Mullumbimby Sports Fields) who intend to build another men’s shed. This will include construction of three new sheds and an application for a pre-existing illegal shed that was recently built without fees, DA, or any consent by from the owner of the land – Byron Council.
How many men’s sheds does ‘The Biggest Small town in Australia’ need?
The illegal building is a 37m2 shed, which was filled 500mm above ground on bolted footings, has electrical power and a water tank.
The new complex being proposed includes three sheds totalling 196m2 on concrete pavers, with water tanks, solar panels at a budget of $75,000.
On their website Community Gardens asks for donations because they receive no recurrent government funding and rely on donations, memberships, grants and fundraising to survive. $75K is a lot of money to have raised considering this.
As an average ratepayer in the Shire if I intended to build anything like a carport, a pergola or even a shed I still need to lodge an application, prepare architectural and engineer’s plans, get various reports and wait three to six months for a decision.
But it appears these rules don’t apply equally!
The planning report for this new men’s shed, including the illegally erected structure, has been designed by Social Habitat, the same group working with councillors to propagate the development of a ‘tiny home affordable housing’ project at the same location – the Mullumbimby Sports and Recreation fields.
The rezoning of this land from Sports and Recreational to Residential has been given Gateway approval by the state government.
Now comes community consultation, something our council is being very tight lipped about.
It will be interesting to see what happens under the new general manager – will a set of rules apply to ratepayers while behind closed doors councillors and staff pat each other’s backs and flip the bird to the rest of us?
The exhibition period begins on July 5. Go to DA No. 296/2018
