Plans to rezone transport corridor land to private use south of Mitre 10 near the new bypass have stirred neighbours into action, with claims it would set a precedent and has ‘no place in future-proofing Byron Bay’.
In a letter to neighbouring residents, Council staff say the land has been sold by Transport for NSW to ‘private ownership’.
‘The rezoning will enable a car park over part of this site’.
Council staff say design details will be available at the development stage, ‘where you will have another opportunity to provide comment’.
‘The southern part of the property is proposed to have E2 Environmental Conservation and E3 Environmental Management zones applied to facilitate revegetation of this area’.
Affected resident Vivienne Swann told The Echo she believes the car park proposal is multi level.
Retrograde 1960s concept
She said, ‘Brisbane banned multi-level parking lots some time ago. Byron Bay must never be allowed to build multi-storey parking lots anywhere in town – we simply cannot allow this to happen because it will set a precedent. It’s a retrograde 1960s concept which has no place in future-proofing Byron Bay’.
She describes it as ‘a 150 metre long eyesore of concrete and steel all set in a beautiful wooded area.
‘A proposed multi-level car park smacks of gross mismanagement and retrograde lack of planning, not to mention complete contempt for the locals who live here, combined with the abject arrogance shown by certain developers who couldn’t give a damn about Byron Bay’s unique position as a “desirable global suburb”.’
Not aligned with town’s masterplan
Supporting Ms Swann’s views on strategic planning, Byron Bay’s Masterplan (page 134) says, ‘All buildings and spaces alongside the rail corridor should address and activate the rail line through supporting a varied mix of uses including retail, commercial, pilot projects, markets, festivals and events’.
The masterplan supports adapting the North Coast Railway line for light rail facilities ‘not heavy rail’.
Yet the masterplan also says ‘Park and Ride opportunities should be catered for, reducing vehicular travel into the town centre’.
The planning proposal is on exhibition until June 7 and is available at Council’s website under the public notices section.
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