What does the future hold for the park in Bayside, Brunswick Heads, that is currently hosting temporary housing pods for those left homeless by the floods?
Since August 2022, Byron Shire Council land and privately-owned land, located on the corner of Torakina Road and Kingsford Drive, has been under the control of the NSW Reconstruction Authority.
That authority has placed 27 housing pods on the site, which are home to people with nowhere else to go following the February 2022 disaster.
Local residents were told that, once the three-to-five-year lease period for the site concluded the park would reopen for public use.
While an adjoining area with children’s play equipment has remained untouched, the adjoining area is considered by some residents as a vital piece of open space in an otherwise busy residential precinct.
However, the Housing Options Paper recently approved by Byron Council identifies the site as having potential for future permanent housing.
This has caused concern among those residents, including the Brunswick Residents Association, who want the park to remain open for public use.
At this week’s Council meeting, Greens councillor Duncan Dey will move a motion seeking the removal of the site from consideration for housing.
‘The community of Bayside supported this emergency measure, on the understanding that the precinct’s only open space would be returned to its long-term use after two or three years,’ Cr Dey said.
‘This arrangement was often reiterated by government agencies and is written into the village’s lease with Byron Shire Council.’
Council earmark park for housing
‘Brunswick Residents Association (BRA) wrote a submission to Council’s Housing Options Paper process asking that the park not be considered an option for permanent housing.
‘I support BRA and strongly object to the principle of using public land for permanent housing following its use for temporary housing after climate disasters. With predictions of further such disasters, it is essential that Council and other levels of government develop principles of how to relocate climate victims on a permanent basis.’
However, in written comments in relation to the motion, Council’s acting director of sustainable environment and economy, Sharyn French, said that the public concerns had been acknowledged, and would be addressed in a future report to Council.
‘As an investigation area, it requires further detailed studies to determine what land is suitable for development,’ Ms French said.
‘Additionally, while this land is zoned for residential purposes, the site classification would need to be changed from Community to Operational, before development could proceed, and this process requires a public hearing.’
The pod village is subject to a three-year lease with the NSW Reconstruction Authority, with two one-year options to renew.
The lease for the pod village commenced on August 19, 2022, with the village becoming operational in March last year.
The lease requires that the site be made good at the end of the term. The yield for the site in terms of permanent dwellings is estimated to be 31.
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