It was great to see Paul McCarthy and BE Crowle standing up for compliant development in our Shire (Letters, 25 May). For too long, Council has waved through developments that breach the LEP (Local Environment Plan), DCP (Development Control Plan) and relevant State legislation, including SEPP 65 (State Environment Planning Policy).
Along with obvious height breaches, these developments also fail in terms of floor space ratios, site coverage, open communal space and deep planting (basically trees in the ground rather than pots). Not just out-of-character buildings, but ever-increasing load on the drainage system and less ground to soak up water.
More concrete, higher buildings, more units that the developer can sell (even when, during community consultation, they claim they’ll be a long-term owner and provide affordable accommodation), less natural light, less green space to naturally cool the area, less Byron Bay and more Gold Coast. Whether the developer lives in Byron, Broadbeach or Balmoral doesn’t change the outcomes for our community.
Watch for the DA (development application) on the Secret Garden opposite Mercato, amongst others. Will the new Council stand up for their own rules and their community, or will it roll over again? Either way, more community voices are needed to stop further inappropriate development.
Paul Cholakos, Montecollum
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. 
