Bruns boarding house showdown Thursday

Paul Bibby

The stage is set for a crucial debate over the Brunswick Heads ‘Corso’ development in Byron Council this week, with staff recommending that the developer’s revised plans be approved.

The Corso development would see the town’s Bayside precinct become home to a two-storey, mixed-use development complete with a 38-room boarding house, four ground-level shops, shop-top apartments and 51 parking spaces.

It has drawn strong opposition from neighbours, who say it is a major overdevelopment of the site that will result in severe parking, traffic and other amenity impacts for those living nearby.

But others argue that the development will provide much-needed housing for the Shire, even if it will only be affordable for those who are at least on middle incomes.

In a barely concealed strategic move, developers Oniva and the Kollective, took Byron Council to court over its ‘deemed refusal’ of the application.

This has resulted in a series of court-ordered, confidential mediation sessions at which the developers have been attempting to negotiate approval of the project.

The staff report contained within the agenda to this week’s council meeting states that, during these closed-door sessions, the developer offered to amend its plans in accordance with Council’s wishes.

The amendments include increasing the number of shops from two to four, a revised design that more effectively integrates the development with the adjacent public reserve, and a reduction in the number of boarding rooms from 39 to 38.

This aligns completely with the matters of concern that councillors unanimously endorsed at last month’s full meeting.

The revised plans were exhibited for a week from April 7 to 14 to give the locals an opportunity to respond.

However, one piece of information that has not been made public is the legal advice that Council received about its prospects of success should it choose to pursue the matter in court.

Rendered confidential to preserve council’s position in the case, it will almost certainly play a significant role in Council’s decision on whether or not to reach an agreement with the developers.

The residents who oppose the development are expected to be out in force at this week’s meeting, ready to express their views during the meeting’s public access section.