Last week’s Echo reported Byron Shire Mayor Lyon suggesting increasing building height limits to permit more development in ‘certain areas’. He adds that the Department of Primary Industries may have to give a bit regarding significant farmlands.
Sounds ominously like building on floodplains. Sounds like no emphasis on infrastructure to support this mad drive to cover our area with buildings.
Our infrastructure is already antiquated, inadequate and under-maintained. The answer given, to many ratepayers expressing concern is: ‘No money’.
If Council cannot currently fund necessary works to protect the town, how will they manage more extensive future development?
In answer to concerns expressed re flood mitigation, Mr Phil Holloway replied that the waterways surrounding Mullumbimby (silted-up rivers and blocked creeks), which are a major cause of flooding, are the responsibility of Roads and Maritime services.
Wouldn’t it be a first priority of the Council we elected to make decisions that benefit our town and protect our property, to be diligently communicating with these agencies on our behalf?
Before Cr Lyon continues with any further irresponsible ideas regarding development and housing, I strongly suggest he applies his energies and resources (which we pay for) to making safe what he’s currently responsible for.
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. 
