The long-awaited audit of Council-owned and managed properties has been tabled by staff, with councillors set to vote on the issue at this Thursday’s meeting.
Just two options are tabled for possible use for the community – the former Mullumbimby STP located near the St John’s Catholic Primary School, and a small unserviced residential block on Station Street in Mullumbimby, to the south of Council’s HQ.
Around 72 properties were listed overall in the report.
Within the recommendations, senior staff members Esmeralda Davis and Shannon Burt, claim that there are ‘very limited options for further investigation owing to various constraints’, potentially putting the kibosh on whether Council can provide an emergency housing village, or assist with other projects like the long-awaited Men’s Shed and One Roof Byron.
Two resolutions
The report comes after a resolution nearly a year ago by councillors, which ‘Requested a report that identifies Council-owned or managed properties and their opportunities and limitations for use by community services, groups and non-profit organisations’.
In April this year, another councillor motion asked staff to ‘investigate and present at a councillor workshop, potential Council-owned or managed land that could be suitable for an emergency housing village for people experiencing homelessness in Byron Shire, including the planning pathways required to enable such a use’.
Criteria
Within their report, staff assessed with a criteria that excluded small land parcels (<300m2) and land/buildings outside a 3km radius of Bangalow, Brunswick Heads, Byron Bay, Ewingsdale, Mullumbimby, New Brighton and Suffolk Park.
Also excluded were Council-run caravan parks, toilets, and operational buildings.
As reported last week, Queer Family representatives were hopeful that a home could be found for their organisation.
While Queer Family representatives have been invited to an upcoming councillor workshop, staff admit that despite a meeting with NSW Reconstruction Authority and a not-for-profit organisation, ‘To date, neither option has yielded a tangible outcome, however advocacy is continuing’.
Council staff added that other advocacy opportunities include a state government property audit and the Resilient Lands and Resilient Homes programs, including buyback land.
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