The Mullumbimby Chamber of Commerce and Community is calling on the community and businesses to gather at the Byron Shire Council (BSC) chambers at 2pm tomorrow, Thursday, 9 October to let councillors know that the closure of Mullumbimby Road for four months is unacceptable.
The Stage 2 of the roadworks will see outbound traffic closed to all but emergency vehicles and school buses for at least four months from 13 October.
The Chamber President, Paul Prior, has made it clear that the impact on both businesses and the local community will be significant and that the BSC needs to reassess the way they are approaching the road closure and bring in stop-and-go two-way traffic during the day, augmented by nightworks.
‘Council wants to close outbound traffic on Mullumbimby Road at the busiest time of the year for four months, only allowing buses and emergency vehicles access,’ explained Mr Prior.
‘This will be a disaster for all of Mullum businesses and the community.’
Speaking to the ABC North Coast news local business owner Brenden Lawless said that ‘the council must rethink the roadworks because of the financial impact it will have.
‘Job losses are real, reducing people’s hours are real. We are trying to get people to have holidays now and we wouldn’t normally be doing that. It is also not a short amount of time, we are looking at four months.’
Road safety issues
A key issue raised has been safety with businesses from the industrial estate highlighting the unsuitability of the proposed large truck detour by Myocum to the M1. Local businesses have suggested that the trucks be let through in the mornings and evenings, nightworks to shorten the outbound road closure time frame and two-way stop and go traffic but their suggestions appear to have fallen on deaf ears when it comes to the Byron Shire Councillors.
It has been pointed out to councillors that the 640 trucks a day coming through central Mullumbimby is a significant risk along with the fact that the roads do not allow adequate capacity for trucks to turn corners safely putting pedestrians, cyclists, and other road users at risk. That is before they move onto the proposed detour route of Myocum Road that runs past Mullumbimby High School.
The large trucks will be detoured past Mullum High during the upcoming HSC exam period and the impact on students at this time.
Lack of community consultation
Multiple businesses expressed their concern at the BSC approach to community consultation, saying it didn’t feel like a consultation, but rather council staff telling them the pre-determined outcome of what was to take place.
‘The four-month, one-way detour is going to kill small businesses in Mullumbimby and beyond,’ local businesswoman Sharon McGrath previously told The Echo.
‘What is disappointing for the broader community is the lack of consultation and engagement. The risk assessment that Council has undertaken only relates to the risk to Council staff – which is of course important, but the social and economic impact of the roadworks on residents and businesses for four months is not evident,’ she explained.
Time to make some noise?
Former Mullumbimby Music Festival Director, Glenn Wright, is giving a call out to all those who are also concerned, to join him as part of the Mullumbimby Street Parade Band to make some music to let the councillors know it is time to stand up and take action.
‘I, and many other community members fear the closure of Mullumbimby Road to outbound traffic from town will impact negatively on the safety of everybody that uses the roads of Mullumbimby,’ said Glenn.
Rehearsal
Glenn is calling a rehearsal for anyone interested in joining the music parade this Wednesday, 8 October at 5pm at 20 Towers Drive, Mullumbimby Industrial Estate.
‘We can play three to four songs, maybe ‘Down By The Riverside’, ‘Mardi Gras’, ‘The Saints’ and perhaps ‘This Little Light of Mine’. The rehearsal will just be an hour refresh for those that can make it. If you want sheet music email me a request and I’ll send pdfs,’ said Glenn.
To join the street parade meet at the Courthouse Hotel beer garden at 1.45pm on Thursday, 9 October and then the street band will make their way to the Council Chambers.
‘I hope to see some of you there, if you agree with me, to make some music, have a bit of fun, and maybe some dancing,’ said Glenn.
‘If you have emails or contacts of local musicians that would like to be a part of this, then let them know.’
Road closure the issue highlighted
The Mullumbimby Chamber is asking that the focus remain on the road closure for this gathering.
‘While we understand there are lots of issues both locally and internationally this gathering is about the fact that our town’s road access is going to be cut off and the significant negative impact this will have on our community and businesses,’ Mr Prior reminded everyone.
‘So please respect that and support us on this issue rather than pushing any alternative agendas.’
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