The Echo editor (page 1, 10 April) might need to consider the role of a journalist – particularly that essential question, ‘where’s the story?’
I would never expect a media release to be reprinted verbatim but ours contained quotes from Crs Coorey, Pugh and myself, who met with the developers – not a ‘closed-door deal’ since no deal has been done and it was a resolution of Council that we try to negotiate with them. The content of the release was (incorrectly) paraphrased with one three-word quote from me and nothing else. The article then gave over 11 paragraphs of quotes to James Barrie from the Save Wallum group.
For the benefit of your readers, it [the new proposal] will reduce the footprint from 12 to 11 hectares, will see 1.8 hectares of the best habitat saved and all the mature scribbly gums in the eastern section saved. Additionally, the shrinking of the site is enabled by creating some smaller lots for one and two-bedroom homes, more of the kind of housing people in Byron are seeking, rather than large, expensive family-sized lots.
As to the complaint that the community was not included in the consultation, no developer will meet with a group that is claiming on social media that all Wallum must be saved and there should be no compromise.
At the same time, the article reports James Barrie as saying that ‘this version of compromise’ is not good enough. Of course it’s not good enough, we would all like to see the entire site preserved but, as I and other councillors have already said repeatedly, we have no power to compel the developers to even meet with us, let alone refuse a development that was effectively approved in 2013.
The whole media release, including a site map, can be found here. www.byron.nsw.gov.au/Council/News/Media-releases/Council-supports-improving-environmental-and-housing-outcomes-on-Wallum-development.
The mayor is being disingenuous. He states, accurately, that ” the article reports James Barrie as saying that ‘this version of compromise’ is not good enough. Of course it’s not good enough, we would all like to see the entire site preserved but, as I and other councillors have already said repeatedly, we have no power to compel the developers to even meet with us, let alone refuse a development that was effectively approved in 2013.”
However Byron Shire Council could have, and should have, lobbied state and federal governments to protect Wallum.