Nick Buckley, Byron Bay
Two weeks ago Byron Shire Councillors agreed unanimously to defer a decision to approve a development application (DA) for ten townhouses at Keats Street, Byron Bay in order to allow time for discussions with Councils ecologist regarding a contentious ‘Wetland Buffer Zone’ issue.
Fast forward to the next meeting when it was ‘discovered’ that Council’s ecologist had in fact been on leave for the intervening two weeks. Ah well, not to worry, luckily the developers came to the rescue with their own ecologist’s report.
Unfortunately as this had only been submitted two days earlier, neither Council nor councillors had had a proper chance to digest it. No problem, luckily, again, the developer was on hand and able to assure councillors that his ecologist had found no problems at all with the ‘Wetland Buffer Zone’ issues… so that’s all good then! DA waved through, smiles all round: ‘How good is it to be a Councillor!’ Roll on September’s elections!
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. 
