I seriously can’t believe that our newly-elected councillors keep pushing the unaffordable, so-called affordable, housing SEPP policy to build unaffordable housing.
My very clear view is that none of this SEPP scheme has improved. The other fact is that it is unsuitable in regional areas with lack of suitable public transport, such as ours. The fact that we are clearly lacking available parking spaces practically all over our Byron Shire as our population has increased. The 20 per cent of housing built must be made at a supposedly discount rate of 20 per cent lower than comparable rental rates. But compared to which rental rate, the lowest or the highest that can be compared?
Then there is the very glaring problem of that comparison – rental at the higher end will of course cause other rental rates to rise, as has happened before. The answer lies in protesting, to stop such problems from escalating. The state government needs to be held accountable. The parking pushed onto our overcrowded streets is the problem caused in part by previously-constructed SEPP housing. That has been the problem in our cities, along with developers cashing in and not renting at affordable rates.
The SEPP policy, replacing the public housing system, is the number one problem regarding the shortage of affordable housing, and to continue with this policy is just ridiculous and unacceptable.
Our councillors need to stop pushing this particular case of 57 Station Street, replacing our well-used public car parking in Mullumbimby to, as stated, house Council staff. This to me says it is all about our Council workers and the rest in need of real affordable housing can stay homeless, get used to living in their cars or living in higher-priced rental housing. ‘No, no, no’, to destroying our area with this unsuitable street-clogging system of housing, it has not worked, and won’t work, to fullfil its so-named affordable housing goal.
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. 
