A development application (DA) to create a Community Title (CT), comprising 38 large, exclusive lots and associated infrastructure near the busy Mullumbimby Road and McAuleys Lane intersection has been referred to the Northern Regional Planning Panel (NRPP).
The Echo understands that biodiversity issues triggered the panel’s intervention.
The NRPP also overrides Council’s planning decisions where DAs are deemed above a certain value.
The land was rezoned under the former Council, with traffic issues being one of the issues for Council staff and the developer to thrash out.
The proponents for 53 McAuleys Lane (DA 10.2023.454.1) are local developers John Callahan and Tim Mundy.
As reported last week, urban designer Jack Dods (now a councillor) was the lead design coordinator and neighbour contact for the DA, yet neighbours say they were inadequately consulted.
And as reported during the DA submission to Council, the Voluntary Planning Agreement (VPA) appeared problematic as there were no legal requirements stipulated around traffic management, for example.
Outdated traffic data
The Echo asked Council staff last week, ‘It appears the traffic data to underpin this DA will be a guess – the NRPP say it is ‘essentially the same traffic assessment and intersection upgrade proposal (with slip lanes) for McAuleys Lane as per rezoning – data from 2020 and 2021, with estimated growth factor’.
‘Why wasn’t the developer required to supply real, up-to-date data?’
That question was not answered, yet Shannon Burt, Director Sustainable Environment and Economy told The Echo, ‘The Voluntary Planning Agreement (VPA) previously entered into for the Planning Proposal for 53 McAuleys Lane, Myocum, is now under review to take into consideration requirements for traffic management of DA 10.2023.454.1 and the Mullumbimby Road upgrades, including the McAuleys Lane intersection’.
‘Relevant information, including an updated VPA terms, will be provided to the Northern Regional Panel when the DA is presented for determination early next year’.
The Echo also asked when staff’s assessment of the DA will become public, along with what was the outcome from Council’s request for the DA to be brought back to Council for determination.
‘Was the requested rejected, and if so by whom?’
Answers will be published if provided. A record of briefing document on the panel’s website says Stephen Gow, Michael Wright, Joe Vescio and former Greens mayor Simon Richardson were present on April 17, 2024.
According to the briefing, key issue discussed included on-site wastewater, biodiversity, traffic and access.
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