Residents of Morrison Ave Mullumbimby, rest assured you are not alone.
I have been writing to Byron Shire Council (BSC) for 15 years requesting Council to fix the death trap called Blackbean Lane Federal.
Council informed me that half the lane is owned by Council (the northern end) and the other half is owned by Crown Lands.
Further, that the Crown Lands section was closed in 1973.
Council stated that the community should only use the northern end to access Federal Drive. I have yet to see a public notice advising the ‘community’ accordingly. Crown Lands advised me that the lane was not closed and that it is public through road.
During Covid in 2021, Council permitted ITV to film ‘Love Island’ on the property on the Crown Land section of the lane.
Large cranes, bulldozers, mobile offices and hundreds of vehicles successfully ripped out the whole of that section of the lane.
Allegedly funds were provided by ITV to remedy the damage. This has not happened. A deep chasm remains.
I decided to try turning right onto Federal Drive at the northern end of the lane.
There is no clear line of sight.
There is a speed limit of 80km/h (excessive) on Federal Drive, but many drivers see the stretch of road as an excellent dry run for the Grand Prix.
It is a terrifying experience venturing out or entering the lane at either end.
Council informed me that they have no intention of fixing the lane as it is not considered to be a ‘Council asset’.
It is evident that correspondence to Council is for the most part ignored, especially submissions against DAs.
If they were read and understood (many of which far exceed the quality of the DA), Council would be legally bound to refuse many applications.
As Council has filled in potholes on the Crown Lands section of the lane in the past, and there has been a development (approved by Council), on that section of the lane Council has a responsibility to care for it.
Crown Lands are not required to maintain their roads.
Council is not legally required to make all roads safe in the Shire if there are insufficient funds.
However, if Council is forewarned of a hazard and fails to act then there may be grounds for action in negligence, i.e. the protection from malfeasance does not apply.
To my horror, Mayor Sarah Ndiaye is requesting that ratepayers lobby government to provide more funds and in the same newspaper I read that Council is seeking a substantial increase in rates.
I allege that Council is devoted to serving the needs of developers and tourists at the expense of ratepayers.
More funds would encourage further indulgence and discrimination.
As the only service I receive from Council is garbage, I propose that I dispose of my own garbage and seek the blessing of Council to withhold my rates until I accumulate sufficient funds to have Blackbean Lane re-engineered.
If this fails, I reckon it is time for an independent investigation into the administration of BSC.
For four decades The Echo has printed the stories some people loved, some people hated, and some pretended not to read. If you want us to keep telling the truth, the real truth, not the sugar-coated version. We’ll need your support to keep the presses rolling. 
