Steve Bellerby, Mullumbimby
Byron Shire residents were invited to attend a drop-in session hosted by Council at the Mullumbimby Civic Centre on April 30. The ‘Shaping Our Neighbourhoods Get Involved – Have Your Say’ was aimed at Council getting feedback from locals on how housing in our neighbourhood ‘should look and feel’ into the future. Drop-ins are planned for Byron Bay, Bangalow, and Ocean Shores.
I was taken around the various displays. Large coloured maps showed the areas of Mullumbimby looking at how future housing development could take place. Factors included exisiting character narrative (their words), flood risk, proximity to town and land area that would be used to determine the type and character of housing.
I was asked to write down my thoughts, opinions, expectations, and wishes on new housing in Mullumbimby. I was assured we can expect an influx of several thousand new residents in the next 10 to 20 years.
The haphazard development that’s taken place up until now makes me think any attempt to put in place sensible planning rules is rather too late; many of the new houses and secondary dwellings seem to have been built with little regard to practicality or aesthetics.
I was surprised that while I was there no other member of the public came in. It turned out I was only the second person to take advantage of the opportunity the Council offered.
The six Council staff members who were on hand had little or nothing to do during the three-hour session. Was this was efficient use of Council resources? Numerous large potholes flashed across my mind’s eye!
I can only assume Mullumbimby residents have little interest in how their town could look in the future.
When the Residential Strategy is finalised and the first you know about a monstrosity being built next door is when the building starts, it will be too late to complain.
Opportunities to have input that affects our future are not to be squandered!
