Byron Shire Councillors have deferred a decision on whether to accept an offer on a large parcel of forested ridgeline land above the Tallowood Ridge Estate near Mullumbimby.
The move comes as a relief for residents campaigning for the land to be formalised as a public reserve.
Edwina Hart has been an active Tallowood resident for five years, and told The Echo the Tallowood Village Community Group (TVCG) was ‘keen for consultation with council staff on the best way forward’.
‘Tallowood residents value this piece of land very highly’, she said. ‘it’s an important community asset’.
‘It’s our backyard, a place of solace, a place to walk and connect with nature,’ she said.
‘The kids love it, and they need access to green space.’
Ms Hart said the land was important for local biodiversity, including rare species like glossy black cockatoos and koalas, and said the area also held trees listed on the significant tree register.
Developer seeks contributions waiver
As reported last week developer of the estate, Eric Freeman, is seeking to have Local Open Space and Recreation S7.11 contributions removed on the land.
Freeman explained to The Echo, ‘we created the toddlers’ play park and sports fields, instead of the payment of contributions for lots in earlier stages, and we are now dedicating the ridgeline land as a Public Reserve, that will be part of the Public Open Space network in lieu of payment of the money for Public Open Space and Recreation in Stage 9′.
“The amount of Contributions for Open Space and Recreation in Stage 9 is approximately $582,000, and the appraised value of the ridgeline land is $600,000, so we have met our obligation by dedication of the ridgeline land’.
Ms Hart says, ‘following a long-running campaign from residents, councillors voted unanimously in December 2020 to enter into negotiations with the developer of the estate, to seek the gifting of the land to Council’.
‘So the biggest question is why these negotiations with the developer haven’t yet occurred, and just over three years later, we seem to be back to square one, with councillors voting on the same thing?’
She said it was a surprise to see it on the council agenda and she had to rally residents quickly to respond to councillors.
Landcare involved
Ms Hart said Landcare had already carried out a highly successful restoration project, including installing nest boxes along the ridge.
‘There have been many weeding, planting and maintenance projects over the last four years,’ Ms Hart said.
‘The Tallowood Landcare group was formed to help manage the land as a community group alongside the current contractors, Council and local Indigenous custodians, and will continue to do this if it is put in Council hands,’ she said.
Freeman said it was the council’s intention for the ridgeline land to be ‘maintained by the community, as it does not have the resources to care for and improve it’.
‘The land is an important community asset and will be held by the Council in perpetuity (cannot be sold) on behalf of all members of the community’, Freeman said.
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