A community gathering last night heard of the concerns around the second attempt to plonk a large block of units at the entrance to Mullumbimby.
The proposal, located at 57 Station Street, is led by Byron Shire Council and government agency Landcom. Former mayor Michael Lyon sold the much-used carpark to Landcom behind closed doors for $1, in exchange for some of the units, to be used for Council staff.
Remarkably all Byron Shire councillors ignored the community’s wishes – and the many questions – in the first proposal (with more than 700 submissions). It also included pleas from surrounding businesses, who say they will be adversely impacted (The Echo is one business). Businesses say they feel unsupported and ignored by councillors.
Residents say the second DA still contains a myriad of planning regulation issues around bulk and scale, and does not provide for adequate alternative parking and the removal of a heritage listed public toilet.
The issue has divided the local Greens, with NSW Greens MP, Tamara Smith, attending the meeting and calling the proposal ‘woeful’.
She said it was an ‘excellent information session provided by members of the Mullumbimby Residents Association’.
Missing councillors
Ms Smith told The Echo only Cr David Warth and two Labor councillors, Janet Swain and Peter Doherty, were present at the meeting. The other councillors are Greens mayor Sarah Ndiaye, Greens Crs Elia Hauge, Michelle Lowe, Delta Kay, and independents Cr Michael Lyon and Jack Dods.
‘I gave apologies on behalf of NSW Greens candidate Mandy Nolan, who was unable to be there as she is in Sydney,’ Ms Smith said.
Even more woeful DA, says MP
She said, ‘I made a submission against the first Development Application (DA) – a woeful DA – and I’ll be making a submission against the amended DA – an even more woeful DA’.
‘Why?
‘This is community land being allegedly sold to the state government via Landcom for $1 in exchange for… we don’t know!’
‘153 truck loads of fill on a site that was metres under water in the 2022 floods.
‘We don’t know who the units are for, what they will cost to rent, whether any will be public housing. NSW Greens policy is that community land sold must be for 100% public housing
‘It exceeds the height limits in Council’s own development guidelines by nearly 3 metres
‘It impacts three local businesses in terms of their access
‘The design is ugly and completely at odds with the heritage of the town
‘Sewerage and drainage major flaws
‘There is a complete lack of transparency or consultation with the community about a large development at the entrance to town on community-owned land!
‘We will set up on my website next week some of the information about the development if you want to make a submission and a link to make a submission. Watch this space’, she said.
DA 10.2025.212.1 is available at Council’s website
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