A controversial, large, exclusive 38-lot DA near Mullumbimby, led by wealthy developers John Callanan, Tim Mundy – A controversial large exclusive 38-lot DA, proposed by wealthy developers John Callanan, and Tim Mundy – with help from lead designer and now Deputy Mayor Jack Dods – has been approved by the Northern Regional Planning Panel (NRPP).
The NRPP are tasked with determining large DAs, bypassing Council as the consent authority. Throughout the long process, staff have advocated for the development, despite unanswered questions and bungled processes.
The NRPP panel that unanimously approved the DA, with conditions, on June 26 was comprised of Chair, Di Leeson, Stephen Gow, Michael Wright, Joe Vescio and Simon Richardson.
Richardson is a former Byron Shire mayor, and presided over Council’s Rural Land Use Strategy that enabled the land to be rezoned. He has mentored previous mayor Michael Lyon and current Greens Mayor Sarah Ndiaye.
The panel said in their support of the DA, ‘While some panel members shared concerns about the number of proposed lots, the panel notes the determination of maximum lot yield, with which the application complies, was made as part of the rezoning process in 2020 prior to being considered by the panel’.
As part of conditions of consent, Council need to be satisfied that the land acquisition for the Mullumbimby Rd/McAuleys Lane has completed and the subdivision works cannot be undertaken until the intersection work is done.
There is a two-year timeframe for the developer to complete the intersection upgrade, otherwise the NRPP consent lapses.
A neighbouring property must also be provided a right turn from their driveway, an issue that was brought up during the only meeting that was held with neighbours, many of whom objected to the DA.
On-site sewage plans are to be amended and a neighbour’s bore was taken into account.
The panel said they noted the views of the submissions. Issues of concern to neighbours included traffic, biodiversity, stormwater impacts, and local character, increased density, onsite sewage management, some dwellings protruding above the ridgeline, the potential for future dwelling storeys to be used as short-term holiday letting, and the lack of any provision for affordable housing.
The Echo understands landowners on the corner of Mullumbimby Road and McAuleys Lane are not a party to the planning agreement regarding the intersection upgrade. They have said publicly they felt left out of the process.
Staff justified including Council’s compulsory acquisition of their land in the planning agreement as being for public safety, yet the landowners say that was not told to them at the time. Instead, they say staff were acting on behalf of the developers.
Staff say in their last report that the land acquisition, ‘will support other landowners in McAuleys Lane who may seek consent for additional dwellings, such as dual occupancy and secondary dwellings, thereby contributing to the broader community development’.
Neighbours told The Echo they felt that, as a result of the scrutiny the development had received, there were improvements made to the original DA proposal, despite having to work hard through the approval process to achieve those improvements.
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. 
