Aslan Shand
With Council extending public submissions by one week for landowners to respond to the draft Unauthorised Dwelling Policy, resident groups appear to be divided on the issue.
‘The policy will be applicable to every dwelling in the Shire, rural and urban’, councillor Michael Lyon told The Echo.
Resident and progress associations across Byron Shire’s urban areas say that there has not been much, if any, interest or concern expressed by residents regarding the policy.
Yet Matthew O’Reilly, President of Community Action Byron Shire (CABS), says there is a big split in the community over it. ‘We’ve had hours of debate on this issue at CABS meetings in the last two months. There is no consensus on it within CABS as some groups think it is a good policy, and some don’t,’ Mr O’Reilly told The Echo.
‘On the one hand, there is the inability of the current rate base to meet the infrastructure maintenance and development costs. There is a feeling among some groups that if a lot of unauthorised developments had paid their development fees, then maybe a lot of the infrastructure backlogs, like bad roads etc, would not be as bad.
‘There is a sense that some unauthorised dwellings, not all of them, are taking advantage of the community by not paying their development contributions.
‘On the other hand, there is a legitimate argument that where there are dwellings that have been in place since the 70s and mid-1980s that these should be given an amnesty. Essentially, that any dwelling prior to 1988, when the first Byron LEP (1988) was gazetted, should be given an amnesty. The focus should be on all buildings built since 1988’.
Make a submission
A rumours swirl of landowners kicking people out of possibly unauthorised development throughout the shire Councillor Cate Coorey has reminded landowners that the moratorium is in place ‘until June next year’.
‘There is no reason why they should’ve been thrown out of their home,’ she said pointing out that this would only happen if the building could not be brought up to a required compliance standard.’
Councillor Michael Lyon meanwhile said, ‘I would urge residents from all areas in the Shire who wish to have input into the policy to submit their comments, feedback and suggestions in time for Council to consider them as part of the formulation of the policy’.
While the focus has been on the potential impact of the policy in Main Arm as a result of Council staff sending out 34 roboletters to landowners in that area, president of Main Arm Rural Resident Association (MARRA) Duncan Dey said, ‘I urge dwellers in all areas to look at the MARRA website for advice on submissions’.
More on unauthorised dwellings
Byron Council staff warn of spike in unapproved building
Random audits are one of the measures executive Council staff are looking at around what they say is an increase in unauthorised development.
Unapproved cabin stop order upheld
The NSW Land & Environment Court has upheld Byron Council’s decision to order a local landowner to stop renting out a 40-year-old rural cabin in Middle Pocket because it was an unapproved dwelling.
Cartoon of the week – 28 October, 2020
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Resident groups split over unauthorised dwelling policy
With Council extending public submissions by one week for landowners to respond to the draft Unauthorised Dwelling Policy, resident groups appear to be divided on the issue.
How to reply to Council’s draft Unauthorised Dwelling Policy?
With Council’s draft Unauthorised Dwelling Policy causing alarm and stress within the hinterland community, the Main Arm Residents Association (MARRA) have authored a guide to help residents lodge a submission. But remember this policy also applies to urban areas.
Unauthorised development – what is Council’s liability and where is the...
Further to Council’s aggressive plans to pursue unauthorised development in the Shire’s hinterland, The Echo spoke to Professor John Sheehan, a leading expert on property rights, who explained the issues that both Council and landowners face with regards to development and compliance.
Byron Council staff target Main Arm residents over unauthorised dwellings
Residents in Main Arm are shocked after Byron Shire Council staff sent out letters accusing property owners of having unauthorised development on their land while there is both a moratorium in place and an unauthorised dwelling policy currently on public exhibition.
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The Byron Shire and the Northern Rivers are well known for their abundent range of illegal dwellings, additions, and converted garages.
Byron Shire’s unauthorised dwelling approval policy goes public
Byron Council’s plan to provide the owners of unauthorised dwellings with an avenue to seek approval has proceeded to the next stage, with councillors dismissing a number of amendments requested by a community group.
Byron Shire Council’s illegal dwelling policy scant on detail
A change to a crucial definition in the Byron Shire Council’s Draft Unauthorised Dwelling Policy that comes to Council this week has been criticised by Community Action Byron Shire spokesperson, Duncan Dey.
