While local heads were turned toward a string of big news stories in recent weeks, development applications (DAs) with significant implications for three local towns quietly plopped onto the radar.
$17.3m Mullum housing project
A developer calling itself ‘Sked No. 2’ has applied to build two dozen town houses on Chinbible Avenue, Mullumbimby.
The $17.3m project would see 25 detached dwellings built on the 8,740m2 lot which is currently home to a single house with a pool.
There would also be significant landscaping, earth works, fencing and other associated works.
The statement of environmental effects for the project acknowledges that the proposed development breaches local planning rules in a number of respects, including the building height plane and boundary setbacks.
However, construction of the houses would not begin for five years, as preliminary works must be undertaken on the site first.
The application is currently on public exhibition on Council’s website.
Suffo servo DA
Plans to demolish the Shell service station in Suffolk Park and replace it with a much larger, shinier operation have come back before Byron Council.
Horizon Retail, the owner of the popular servo first had a crack at the $2.75m project back in April 2023, with Council refusing the project on nine separate grounds.
Now the developer is seeking a review of this decision. The proposal would see the old servo replaced with a significantly larger facility, including more pumps, a much larger awning, and a ‘Station Grocer’ similar to those in Lennox Head and Wollongbar.
While on paper the proposed development appears to be much the same as the last one, consultants for the owner say that their application should be given a green light.
Chief among their arguments is the claim that the proposal in its new form is a lawful development under the terms of the original development application submitted back in 1983.
It is also argued that concerns about poor traffic planning and management, impacts on neighbouring properties, flooding issues, and risks of soil and groundwater contamination have also been addressed.
Public submissions on this project have now closed, but more information can be viewed by searching for the following DA on Council’s website: 10.2023.109.2.
New gym in Bruns?
Is the reign of Bruns Fitness as the only local gym north of Mullumbimby coming to an end?
An application has been submitted for a gym, cafe and shop on the site of the old mechanics at 38 Tweed Street, Brunswick Heads.
The site is already being used as a food and drinks premises and a shop.
It is understood that an area of empty indoor space behind these businesses would house the gym.
Building works approved by a private certifier are already being undertaken, with the new application involving the installation of a heating, ventilation and air conditioning system.
There would also be works to install new street parking on Tweed and Fingal Streets.
The consultant hired by the developer says the project is ‘unlikely to result in significant negative amenity impacts’.
It is not clear how they are proposing to manage the additional parking created by the development, given that Tweed and Fingal streets already provide parking for three busy local restaurants.
For more information on this development, search for DA 10.2024.239.1 on Council’s website.
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