Ephraim Sella, Byron Bay
This is an open letter to Stuart Murray, director, and the owners/ developers of Site R&D at West Byron:
With regard to your ‘victory’ in the Land and Environment Court (Echo, 23 March) – just because you ‘can’ does not mean that you should.
Have a look at the map of your proposal compared to the ‘Harvest’ development adjacent to yours. Yours evidences total disregard for the amenity of the community, with a wall closely abutting Ewingsdale Road. Do you really want that wall to be a permanent legacy of your disdain for Byron Bay; your home, as well as ours?
Moreover, the over-development of your site, (maximising the number of lots) will create a much less desirable place to live. It is likely that these lots will sell at a big discount, perhaps earning your development the title of ‘Slumville’.
It is not too late for you to be sensible, reducing the impact on the wider community, while creating a better place to live. You may even find that you make more money by being smart.
An absolute minimum requirement should be the proposed fill being brought on site should be minimal. All buildings should be on stilts at least 3 metres above ground level . Don’t like that style ? Tough , don’t buy there .
In “Do Better West Byron the writer said: “Moreover, the over-development of your site, (maximising the number of lots) will create a much less desirable place to live. It is likely that these lots will sell at a big discount, perhaps earning your development the title of ‘Slumville’.”
Given the affordable housing crisis the less affluent in this area a facing an increase in the number of small lots and big discounts are what our area needs even if it does upset some cashed up elites.