It is 14 years down the track for the latest Iron Gates development application (DA) and over 30 years that the community has been drawing attention to the inappropriate development of this flood and fire prone site near Evans Head.
Yesterday the Land and Environment Court (L&EC) once again gave the developers of the Iron Gates DA another chance to present the case for their development going ahead. This follows a rejection by the Northern Regional Planning Panel (NRPP) in September 2022 and the previous L&EC ruling that the Iron Gates DA had too many ‘modifications’ and needed to be considered as a new DA.
A number of locals presented their arguments against the development. No-one presented a yes case for the development.
‘I raised the problem of aircraft noise from the RAAF’s Air Weapons Range affecting residents who might live there in the future,’ said the spokesperson for Evans Head Residents for sustainable development.
‘Defence had advised that “the range of noise levels in the vicinity of the site, generated by the Super Hornet will be in the range of 70-93 dB(A), which is said to compare with the noise levels generated by busy road traffic and construction work”. Defence stated that while it is conscious of the noise generated by its activities and makes efforts to minimise the community exposure to noise and vibration, it cannot readily modify its activities due to the establishment or intensification of a noise-sensitive development in proximity to air weapons ranges and low flying training areas. It has also been stated that this activity is likely to increase in scale and intensity over time, with future residents at the site likely to be exposed to greater amounts of aircraft noise.
‘Defence have recommended that conditions be imposed on any consent granted for the proposal in relation to: all buildings to be designed and constructed to be compliant with indoor design sound levels for determination of aircraft noise reduction as outlined in AS2021-2015 Acoustics – Aircraft noise intrusion-Building siting and construction; a property notation be placed on any S 10.7 Certificate advising that the property is subject to high levels of aircraft noise generated by activities at Evans Head Air Weapons Range and, any future residential developments are to be comprised of non-reflective building materials. If an reflective surfaces from possible future residential developments cause a glare problem for pilots, Defence may request these surfaces be suitably modified to extinguish the “glare” (Source KJ Planning, Independent Planning Consultant hired by the Department of Planning to provide an independent assessment of the independent planning report provided by Richmond Valley Council, July 2022, report can be obtained from the NRPP website).
‘It wasn’t long after my presentation that RAAF aircraft flew over the Weapons Range area not far from the Iron Gates, drowning out one of the speakers. It really did drive home the “noise nuisance” problem if you build in that location.
‘There were smiles everywhere. The timing was quite amazing and promptlyI had questions asking “had I arranged for it to happen?”.
Following community speakers the Court recessed to inspect the site and the public was told it couldn’t join the inspection.
‘Several members of the public then raised the question, “why not, when we are ratepayers and paying the bills of the legal folks defending Richmond Valley Council’s position”. There was no clear answer initially but it became clear that permission had been refused by those representing the Appellant. This did not go down well,’ said the spokesperson.
Overall those who spoke against the residential proposal canvassed a wide range of objections, some of it new material not heard before.
The case continued in Ballina that afternoon.
For four decades The Echo has printed the stories some people loved, some people hated, and some pretended not to read. If you want us to keep telling the truth, the real truth, not the sugar-coated version. We’ll need your support to keep the presses rolling. 
