Tweed Heads.
Locals say that the approval of the latest modifications of the flood prone, zombie development application (DA) for a 37-lot industrial subdivision at 60 Tringa Street, Tweed Heads West is ‘soul destroying’.
The subdivision was approved in 1996 then bought in 2022 by Dubbo developer MAAS for over $20 million and then cleared in March 2023.
At the June 5, 2025 Tweed Shire council (TSC) meeting the modification application (S96/0049.13 – Mod 12) sought to approve the relocation, construction and opening of a permanent access from Hakea Drive to the northern boundary of Council’s Sewer Treatment Plant (STP) site.
The original DA in 1996 specifically required the developer to buy the land for, and build, an alternative access route. The developer was required to purchase council land for a dedicated road, which they did and this was designated in 2000. However, they have never built the road on the southern boundary and through this modification will move the access route to this new location on the north-east boundary.
Liberal councillors James Owen and Rhiannon Brinsmead moved the motion to approve the modification. Mayor Chris Cherry then moved an alternative motion, Seconded by Cr Meredith Dennis (both independents) to delay the decision until the next council meeting.
Cr Cherry raised concerns about the proposed compensatory planting, how the culverts will act and other issues that were not addressed as part of the original application to create this access as a temporary route.
With both councillors Reece Byrnes (Labor) and Dr Nola Firth (Greens) absent from the meeting the alternative motion was lost with Owen, Brinsmead and Nationals councillor Kimberley Hone voting it down.
The original motion to approve the new access route was supported by Crs Owen, Brinsmead and Hone with Crs Cherry and Dennis against.
Removal of Cobaki Creek protections
Responding to the decision Lindy Smith, president of the Tweed District Residents and Ratepayers Association told The Echo that, ‘It is extraordinary that the recent approval included the opening of the new public road to the north prior to its completion and it is unknown if it complies with regulatory requirements. This new road is substantially different to the original approved road.
‘In the year 2025 when the science is in on sea level rise and climate change, this new road is within a tidal channel immediately adjoining the tidal waterway from Cobaki Creek; at the very least it should have been a bridge crossing in this coastal zone,’ she said.
‘The subject new public road has not had the very basic geotechnical nor engineering assessment and is to become the responsibility of the Tweed Shire ratepayers with potential exposure to financial and legal liability.’
Ms Smith also points out that the recent approval has removed the reserve along the western boundary of the development site adjacent to Cobaki Creek for the protection of vegetation and the drainage easement along the northern boundary adjoining the tidal waterway. She has also pointed out that, ‘the current legal development consent is for Stage 1 of the Site Plan, however the site has now been filled including the Stage 2 area with no approval under the Development Consent for Stage 2.’
Where will the water go?
‘The travesty of the Tringa Street zombie development is a massive wake-up call for these developments in our coastal and floodplain zones,’ said Ms Smith.
‘With a climate of catastrophic disasters the business-as-usual approach to filling and developing our floodplains and coastal zones with no regard for human welfare, infrastructure, liveability, and sustainability of our natural resource assets is unacceptable. It is not rocket science that when you fill floodplains with hills the loss of the flood storage results in that water having to go elsewhere along with the added stormwater from increased impervious surfaces. Nowhere do you see any consideration to the cumulative impacts on existing communities, particularly those adjoining these sites.
‘The ruthless destruction and failures that are occurring on these priceless ecosystems is soul destroying, and as a great grandmother it really stresses me what we are leaving behind for this and future generations.’
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