Marissa Frappell, Byron Bay
Michael Lyon voted for the Butler Street bypass. He voted to destroy a community, people’s living conditions, and to destroy untouched protected wetlands.
He did this without looking properly at the alternative. The 2001 EIS was the only study completed on the bypass and its best location. It concluded that the rail corridor was the best outcome for the environment and the community.
It was done in 2001. Last week on Facebook Mr Lyon said he had never seen those plans. Is it too much to ask that our councillors are informed on topics before voting on them?
He wasn’t the only one.
A letter to Tamara Smith from Mark Coure, Parliamentary Secretary for Transport and Infrastructure included the following:
‘ … if Byron Shire Council, the relevant road authority, wishes to propose the construction of a road within a specific section of the rail corridor in the vicinity of Byron Bay, the NSW Government would be happy to consider its proposal in further detail.’
Council minutes from June 2017 record the result of subsequent debate:
‘Notice of Motion No. 9.2 Byron Bay Bypass File No: I2017/788
Moved that Council:
a) Provide an updated estimate for the full construction costs of the proposed Byron Bay bypass;
b) Provide an estimate for the full construction costs of a roadway within the rail corridor from Lawson Street to Browning Street Byron Bay; and
c) Identify the available sources of funds to construct the Byron Bay bypass. (Spooner/Coorey)
The motion was put to the vote and declared lost.
Crs Martin, Lyon, Ndiaye, Richardson and Cameron voted against the motion.
Ordinary Meeting Minutes 22 June 2017 page 24’