Paul Bibby
Byron Council will review the worsening pedestrian safety and parking issues occurring in Sunrise as a result of increased housing density and a lack of infrastructure.
The move came, somewhat ironically, as Council voted to approve another medium density housing development in the suburb.
The approved development at 7–9 Julian Rocks Drive is for 10 dwellings ranging in size from one to three bedrooms.
It will be developed by The Kollective housing corporation, which has at least 10 other similar projects across the Shire, including one directly opposite on Julian Rocks Drive which is the subject of a Land and Environment Court battle.
Greens Deputy mayor Sarah Ndiaye said of the most recent proposal, ‘While I’m never excited to support such high density on these blocks, there isn’t a reason for us to reject this proposal under the current LEP and planning laws’.
However, Cr Ndiaye said that it highlighted pedestrian safety, traffic and parking issues in Sunrise.
In particular, one of the entrances to the new development, which could generate up to 22 additional cars, lies in close proximity to a bus stop used by local school children.
‘The whole area of Sunrise wasn’t set up with the level of cars, pedestrian use, cycle use movements it now has,’ Cr Ndiaye said.
‘If we want people to use public transport, we have to create public transport they can actually use safely.’
Labor Cr Jan Hackett agreed that a review was needed, pointing out that the road verges in Sunrise were full of parked cars.
‘They’re also parking in the walkways that were designed for the backs of properties,’ Cr Hackett said.
‘Now with the development of the industrial estate, you’ve got overflow parking from there, from the shopping centre and from Habitat.’
Greens Mayor Simon Richardson and Labor Councillor Paul Spooner both spoke against the proposed traffic and safety review, arguing that an issue of such seriousness needed to dealt with separately.
‘I think this is a well-intentioned, but slightly clumsy way of doing it,’ Cr Richardson said.
‘We haven’t asked staff what costings are involved, how long it will take… We’re looking at a whole report on getting better outcomes on affordable development.
‘Let’s go into this with our eyes open.’
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