The battle over a controversial mixed-used development proposed for the main street of Suffolk Park looks set to go to a full hearing in the Land and Environment Court with Byron Shire Council, after the court-ordered conciliation process failed.
Councillors heard last week at their meeting that the behind-closed-doors mediation process between its lawyers, and those hired by the Sydney developer, Denwol Suffolk Park Pty Ltd, had not produced a resolution and was now at an end.
As a result, the matter must go to trial, and has been set down for a five-day hearing from June 5–9.
Located next to the existing Suffolk Park retail precinct on Clifford Street, the development proposes two new three-storey buildings incorporating seven town houses, four units, 12 affordable housing units and 300 square metres of commercial space.
The original application for the development was rejected by Council last year, with Council setting out 17 separate reasons for refusal.
The developer, Sydney-based Denwol Suffolk Park Pty Ltd, has maintained that the development is appropriate for the location, and will provide much-needed affordable housing for the Shire.
They appealed Council’s refusal in the Land and Environment Court (LEC), triggering the compulsory conciliation process.
A large, vocal group of local residents and business owners oppose the proposed development, arguing that it will cause irreparable damage to the character of their village, cause numerous amenity issues, and is far larger than is appropriate for the site.
Hundreds of residents have signed a petition against the proposal and around 70 attended a protest on the site last month.
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