The rezoning of high-value agricultural land for future housing – some on floodplains – is likely to be rushed through at Thursday’s Council meeting with last-minute tinkering – see page 1.
The Residential Strategy 2041 has been a complex beast for those following it, and no one can honestly say the plan is the result of good process. Or that they are across all the details.
The mayor admitted as much in his Zoom meeting on Monday – as one example, he was unaware that a 11.5m height increase across all future greenfield developments is now included in the strategy.
During the Zoom, he verified with Council’s planning director, Shannon Burt, via text, that it had been included in the previous Housing Options Paper (HOP). That document ‘informs’ the new strategy. Residents in the Zoom meeting disagreed, saying it’s a new addition. Are you still with us? If you search the HOP for ‘11.5m’, there is only reference to the Mullum hospital site, and a vague aspiration around infill on page 22.
Did the community ask for a blanket 11.5m height limit increase? We are told that we asked for higher density by Ms Burt.
Anyway, here’s some of what’s contained within the strategy which isn’t covered in the page 1 story:
From page 72, expect more houses as follows: New Brighton, Ocean Shores, South Golden Beach up to 619 (currently 7,146); Brunswick Heads up to 604 (currently 1,936); The Saddle Road up to 1,504 (no data available at profile.id.com.au); Mullumbimby up to 1,417 (currently 4,256); Bangalow up to 861 (currently 2,813); Byron Bay/Sunrise up to 1,236 (currently 6,356); Suffolk Park up to 295 (currently 4,555).
Ms Burt has released the names and street names of residents whose public submissions articulated strong opposition to rezoning Mullum floodplains, 139 Bangalow Road, Byron Bay, and 64 Corkwood Crescent, Suffolk Park. This is at odds with Council’s stated policy that privacy concerns prevents them from being released.
Three-storey floodplain development is proposed at the Mullum pod village site on Prince Street. Council land, Lot 22, located near the Mullum Community Gardens, was abandoned as a housing project because of flooding fears, yet neighbouring similar low-lying land is in the strategy (1660-1634 Coolamon Scenic Drive).
Alternative housing forms and models are proposed – 50m2 ‘micro home’ lots, intentional communities, pocket neighbourhoods, seniors and disability housing communities, live and work spaces, and new-generation boarding houses.
Council’s Affordable Housing Contribution Scheme will likely apply to 20 per cent of all new rezonings. Yet like infrastructure, there isn’t much detail on how it will be achieved and is being worked out on the fly.
Hans Lovejoy, editor
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