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Byron Shire
March 28, 2024

Linnaeus goes to ICAC

Latest News

Iconic Lennox beach shed upgraded –  not demolished

Lennox Park and the shelter shed has now been upgraded and reopened.

Other News

Iconic Lennox beach shed upgraded –  not demolished

Lennox Park and the shelter shed has now been upgraded and reopened.

State of confusion

If any of you watched Joe Biden’s State of the Union address, you would know that it was a...

Floodplains

We need a serious talk about development on floodplains with more creativity and sophistication. The recent discussion about development...

Murwillumbah’s Rebecca Whan recognised for tireless work post 2022 floods

Murwillumbah was severely impacted by the 2022 floods and it was a huge community effort to support, rescue and inspire everyone to move forward. 

Coveted Wollumbin Art Award open for young and old

Are you an artist in the Northern Rivers? Now is the time to get your art ready and submitted to the Tweed Regional Gallery & Margaret Olley Art Centre’s coveted biennial Wollumbin Art Award.

UK court seeks assurances from US over Julian Assange

The UK High Court of Justice has released a 66 page judgement seeking more information from the United States relating to Australian citizen Julian Assange, which it says it needs before deciding whether to grant the WikiLeaks founder leave to appeal his extradition.

Byron Council expresses a commitment to  ‘open and transparent’ government in its Community Strategic Plan, but do they mean it?

Council refuses to admit that the procedural fairness and transparency that’s required for a zone change wasn’t followed for Linnaeus. The facts are clear that the community wasn’t informed of the zone change from Education to Mixed Use Development in 2015/16.  

This was raised in the recent NRPP hearing. BSC staff responded to a query from the Chair and explained the right process; that councillors determine what goes on exhibition. However, this isn’t what happened for Linnaeus but the NRPP ignored the community concerns and granted an approval for eco-tourism. 

In 2020 I made a formal complaint to Council after extensive research. Council responded, but didn’t address the issues, and made it a confidential legal privilege report that I can’t even share with a lawyer.  So where’s the open and transparent processes, that Council states as a core principle of good governance?

If I’m wrong, why aren’t they willing to prove it publicly? The only option I have now is to take it to ICAC to seek review of why our Council and NRPP disregard procedural fairness in the planning process and grant benefit to landowners. 

Jan Barham, Broken Head 


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Govt cost-shifting ‘erodes financially sustainable local government’

Byron Shire Council looks set to add its voice to the growing chorus calling on the state government to stop shifting responsibilities and costs onto local government.

Saddle Road group home DA decision this week

Plans to build Byron Shire’s first permanent group home for women and children in housing stress are moving ahead, with the development application for the project coming before Council this week.

A health check as Medicare turns 40

If you’ll forgive the earnest tone, I’d like to propose a toast. To a friend who’s almost always there when you need them most. To a system that aims to treat people fairly and respectfully. 

Byron Council staff baulk at councillors’ promise of free parking for locals

Will Byron Council deliver on its pledge to make parking permits free for locals across the Shire when paid parking comes into force in Brunswick Heads?