The discovery of sewer mains underneath a large ‘affordable housing’ proposal by government-run development corporation Landcom appears to have put a kibosh on the project.
It is located at a busy carpark at 57 Station Street, Mullumbimby, near the entrance to the town.
Byron Council staff confirmed with The Echo on Tuesday that, ‘The applicant [Landcom] has been advised that the building can’t be approved in its current location as it is inconsistent with the Building in the Vicinity of Underground Infrastructure Policy 2025, and has been requested to amend the plans accordingly’.
‘Amended plans have not been received to date’.
While the staff comments do not completely rule the project out, it is unclear how it can be achieved in a reduced capacity at the location, given Landcom claim the project needed its bulk and scale to attract a community housing provider (CHP).
The sewer mains were not identified in Landcom’s DA, and as previously reported, Council staff and councillors were not engaged with Landcom’s DA process, despite Landcom acting on Council’s instruction.
Five-year saga
The long-running saga began in 2020 – five years ago – with councillors, led by then-mayor Michael Lyon, trying to broker deals behind closed doors to sell off the public land to a CHP, yet they could not attract a CHP.
Landcom later stepped in as developer, again without any certainty of a CHP.
Submissions for their DA recently closed, which as reported, contained multiple omissions and inaccuracies.
It faced fierce opposition from residents and the business community, given the myriad of non-compliant issues, bulk and scale, and the proposed temporary relocation of the carpark, which would be hundreds of metres away, north of the Woolies building.
The Echo is one businesses impacted by the DA, as is the IGA, Little Lane Dental and Hungerford Legal.
The Other Joint cafe and Pink Lotus restaurant faced losing access to their grease trap and gas bottles should this go ahead.
No businesses consulted
None of the businesses were consulted prior to DA lodgement.
Throughout DA pre-lodgement, councillors appeared united in their support for the project, despite being unable to answer questions around its impacts.
When councillors were recently contacted by The Echo seeking assistance that surrounding local business would not be forced to close, or be put under undue financial pressure if the DA was approved, only Cr David Warth and Greens Cr Elia Hauge replied.
While Cr Hauge appeared concerned at the business impacts, she believed at the time the project was worth pursuing.
Those who ignored impacted local businesses were Greens Mayor Sarah Ndiaye, Greens Cr Michelle Lowe, Greens Cr Delta Kay, Cr Jack Dods, Cr Michael Lyon, Labor Cr Asren Pugh and Labor Cr Janet Swain.
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