The position of a senior biodiversity officer is likely to return to Byron Shire Council, after councillors unanimously voted at their Thursday meeting to hold a confidential ‘workshop’ meeting with executive staff to explore options.
During the debate around Council approving the Wallum urban development in the last term, it emerged that Council had removed the position, and the DA came without that assessment.
Position dropped
Council’s former senior biodiversity officer, who is now a consultant, explained to councillors during the Wallum debate how the process was flawed.
Former mayor Michael Lyon had used his casting vote to proceed with Wallum.
Last week’s motion, as moved by Mayor Sarah Ndiaye, reads in part that councillors will receive clarification around ‘the current methods and effectiveness of ecological oversight on planning applications, including options for the establishment of a senior ecologist position within the planning directorate to enhance ecological oversight on planning applications’.
The allocation of funds in the 2024/25 budget will be sought, ‘with the goal of recruitment and commencement in the early part of the new financial year’.
The motion also says that Council will explore, ‘Options for short-term funding during the upcoming quarterly review, to engage an ecologist on a part-time or temporary basis until the permanent role is established.
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