A mixed-use development comprising ground floor commercial premises, car parking and eight shop-top housing units is now on exhibition on Council’s website.
The estimated cost of the development is just over $6m.
Located at the former Poinciana cafe site next to Landcom/Council’s proposal, the development application (DA) is being put forward by Brenden Lawless, who owns various businesses in the town.
The ground floor commercial premises cover 198.8m2 and would front Station Street. The DA’s Statement of Environmental Effects (SEE) says, ‘At the back of the site, car parking is provided for 20 vehicles, including two accessible car parking spaces and one loading space’.
On the first floor, four one-bedroom and four two-bedroom ‘shop-top housing’ apartments are proposed. Waste collection is proposed on Station Street.
As for stormwater runoff, it is proposed to be directed to McGoughans Lane, and a reuse tank (minimum of 4,000 litres) will discharge to the stormwater detention tank, which is described as a ‘8.82m3 stormwater underground tank [that] will be utilised for on-site stormwater detention (OSD)’.
What about traffic?
The traffic report says vehicular access to the site will be from McGoughans Lane.
The traffic consultant says in the DA, ‘Site observations were undertaken during an inspection of the intersection on Thursday April 10, 2025 between 1 and 2pm’.
They say, ‘During the inspection, it was observed that majority of the traffic at the intersection was along Burringbar Street.
‘The percentage of vehicle entering the intersection from McGoughans Lane were small (roughly three per cent of the total intersection traffic). It was observed that approx 98 per cent of vehicles entering the intersection from McGoughans Lane make left turns at the intersection’.
The traffic consultant argues that as the peak hourly trips are 8.58 vehicles per hour, ‘This is a reduction compared to the existing approved restaurant’, which had lower vehicle movements assessed as per the RTA’s Guide to Traffic Generating Developments (GTGD) guide.
VPA for public art
As part of the application, Lawless has proposed a Voluntary Planning Agreement (VPA), ‘to provide a monetary contribution of $15,907.50 to Byron Shire Council for provision of public art or install Council approved public art. The VPA will not exclude contributions levied pursuant to sections 7.11 and 7.12 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979’.
While the proponent undertook pre-lodgement consultation on December 19, 2024 and March 13, 2025 with Council staff, this is the first time the public have been made aware of the proposal.
Lawless told The Echo the DA ‘became necessary, as the site has been listed for lease for well over a year, with little to no serious interest at all’.
‘It became apparent pretty early that an alternate use would be needed, based on the level of interest and offers. It has been just an awful response. There has been concern from potential tenants as to the site becoming potentially isolated from the other businesses, and the loss of the adjoining carpark. Even though my understanding is that this is not guaranteed, it still obviously is a consideration for anyone wanting to lease a site.
‘As a result, we decided to use it as an opportunity to move our offices, which we need to do, and build eight apartments above (four by one-bedrooms and four by two-bedrooms).
‘It’s initially planned to help with immediate staffing needs, but hopefully that won’t be required, and they will be rented out long-term.
Designed to fit in well with the neighbourhood
‘The development has been designed deliberately to fit in well with the neighbourhood, leaning heavily on art-deco influences like many other local CBD buildings.
‘It’s limited to only two storeys, with plenty of car parking as we didn’t request any exceptions in the application in regards to parking at all.
‘It should have a very nostalgic feel to its street presence when completed. I think for people who know me locally they are aware of my love of historic design, and I hope that this has been proven in actions to date’.
The Echo asked, ‘You were initially concerned around Landcom’s proposal next door, and said previously that “a very well-intended project that would help with housing, however in the wrong location”. Do you still believe that?’
He replied, ‘I do still think it is a very well intended project by those involved, and comes from a place of concern for what is a huge issue, housing’.
‘It’s a tough one, as I suspect only well meaning intentions in regards to its purpose, but I would naturally like to see a development (or many more of them) where we didn’t lose carparks.
‘I think it’s hard to comment honestly without conceding this. My hope is that if it is approved they will build not just the car-parks lost, but a lot more’, Lawless adds.
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