Tracey Stride, Coorabell
I lived in a new development called The Kollective in Byron Bay for a while and would have liked to stay because I liked the ideals of the developers. However, it turned out to be a misnomer to liken it to a ‘collective’. It was too densely packed, with no insulation – including against noisy neighbours.
They couldn’t get people to stay long term, including me, so it ended up being populated with backpackers who couldn’t afford the rent for a one bedroom place. Therefore, they packed three and sometimes four people into those tasteful, utilitarian, but tiny places.
Twenty or so units, 10 car spaces, and tenants who – for the most part didn’t give a stuff about their neighbours; they were in party mode. Can you imagine?
It was completely overrun with cars – and if you have a look at the two nearly side by side at 18 Sunrise Boulevard in Byron, you’ll know what I mean. It is even worse down there now that Airbnb has moved in, and there are eight tenants, most with cars, in a four bedroom house.
For those in or near Bangalow – don’t let them in! Protest! It’s a future slum.
Write to the developers at and ask them why they feel the need to take legal action when their massive over-development is approved? I just did.
Why not negotiate? Threatening legal action is now a strategy for The Kollective. Why? Why is it even allowed in local communities? Forced mediation until a resolution is reached is less costly. Of course compromise will be required from both sides… but still, surely we can do better, all of us?
For four decades The Echo has printed the stories some people loved, some people hated, and some pretended not to read. If you want us to keep telling the truth, the real truth, not the sugar-coated version. We’ll need your support to keep the presses rolling. 
