Public submissions close Friday July 14 for vague ‘fast tracked’ plans by the Northern Rivers Reconstruction Corporation (NRRC) to upscale the populations of both Bangalow and Saddle Road. Saddle Road is located near the Mullum/Bruns highway turn off.
From July 1, the newly formed Reconstruction Authority subsumed the NRRC’s staff and responsibilities, yet the documents are still on the NRRC’s website.
The plans appear to be aimed at increasing considerably the housing density for the region, with rural zonings changed to residential to accommodate the developments.
According to The Draft Northern Rivers Resilient Lands Strategy Summary Report, land south of Bangalow could accommodate up to 500 dwellings.
The land, believed to be near Lavender Hill, is not included in the North Coast Regional Plan 2041.
Currently, Bangalow’s dwellings number is 1,080, according to profile.id.com.au. Additionally, indicative land near the Bangalow Industrial Estate is identified, which could house more people in the ‘medium term’, yet no housing figures are provided.
The area has a history of locals opposing large-scale development, particularly a ‘food hub’, which was eventually withdrawn in 2018.
A similar hard-fought win by locals to retain their amenity occurred in Saddle Road, where land now earmarked as light industrial was pegged as an eco village.
Before calling it quits in 2019, the Bruns Eco Village owner brought other neighbouring landowners on board in an attempt to develop the scenic and highly valuable land. Up to 800 homes are now pegged for Saddle Road. According to profile.id.com.au, the population of Brunswick Heads is 1,929, while Mullumbimby is 4,248.
According to The Draft Northern Rivers Resilient Lands Strategy Summary Report identifies ‘a sustainable pipeline of land and housing to support the relocation of residents impacted by the 2022 floods’.
No framework
No framework for this is provided within the documents.
The Resilient Land Program covers the Ballina, Byron, Clarence Valley, Kyogle, Lismore, Richmond Valley and Tweed local government areas (LGAs).
While the NRRC considered landowner applications for the ‘fast tracked’ development, the NRRC also held secret meetings with Mayor Michael Lyon and General Manager, Mark Arnold, to finalise the lands now under consideration.
Council have, however, asked the NRRC to include a masterplan process and community consultation ‘before any upzoning is undertaken’. A ‘lack of detail about the makeup of the rest of the proposed release areas’ is also noted by Council.
To make your voice heard, visit the Resilient Lands Strategy, email [email protected], or mail Northern Rivers Reconstruction Corporation, PO Box 5124, East Lismore, NSW 2480.
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