DA awareness

Dear mayor, councillors and general manager, I am writing to request that you initiate the process to reinstate the weekly advertisement of Development Applications (DAs) on exhibition in The Byron Shire Echo.

I understand that Byron Shire Council has previously paid The Echo to advertise DAs. I also understand that, in an interview conducted by members of Community Action Byron Shire (CABS)  prior to the Council election, the candidates agreed that DAs should be advertised in The Echo.

I am calling on councillors to progress this commitment.

As a widely-distributed and free publication, The Echo is an important way for our community to be informed of DAs lodged with Council, and have the opportunity to make submissions in a timely way during the exhibition period.

Many members of the community are concerned that Council is receiving large numbers of DAs, some of which are seeking approval of developments that do not comply with current planning requirements.

The publication of the DAs in The Echo would enable the community to be kept informed of proposed developments, and have the opportunity for consultation and input on developments that may affect the character and amenity of our Shire.

Thank you for your assistance in enabling our community to have a voice in the future of our Shire.

Kay Collins, Byron Bay

• Council used to pay to advertise DAs with The Echo many years ago. After they withdrew that advertising, we ran them for a long time for free. Last year, former mayor Jan Barham paid for DAs to go in for several months out of her own pocket. Community Action Byron Shire (CABS) interviewed all the councillors prior to the last election and they apparently agreed that DAs should be advertised in The Echo, but none of them have pushed that forward since their election.

– Letters Ed