What does it take? Councillors: be brave regarding 57 Station Steet.
At Byron Shire Council’s meeting Cr Lyon put a motion for Council to withdraw support from the 57 Station Street car park development application (DA).
Supported by three other councillors, the motion was defeated by the mayoral casting vote.
But the kicker was that some councillors (including one who voted to push on with the DA) believe that this development won’t be built as it’ will be unaffordable.
So why is the DA still ‘live’? Why all the stress for everyone, especially surrounding businesses, for these past years?
Looks to be a case of councillors either not reading or not being made aware of key information, much of it unearthed by residents’ persistence, and a series of missteps in the studies and in consultation, now acknowledged by councillors.
The DA documents and the DA process itself are a shambles. What started out as a moderate housing development idea on top of a public car park with 24-hour-accessible toilets was allowed to morph into a Landcom monster gobbling up every square metre of the people’s car park. Ignoring significant impacts on local businesses, obvious traffic chaos, heritage items, giving away a land asset worth $1.5m for $1, and requiring ratepayers to fork out a few more million for replacement car parks, accessible toilets, road crossings, etc… on it went.
The community spoke and spoke and spoke, but until Thursday, 17 September councillors were resolute; the DA must proceed. Even as community confidence in our Council evaporated. Now they are split.
Armed with masses of information evidencing the development was both inappropriate and problematic at that site, and given credible alternatives for better locations, many people agree with those councillors now pondering the wisdom of this choice of site.
But why has it taken so long? Perhaps some councillors desire to not rock the boat, some eye off higher office, some did not read or weren’t given accurate information, some have belated concern about the poor community consultation and ‘closed door’ agreements and processes on this DA.
Have the courage of your convictions and withdraw support for this site in favour of the known better alternatives. Council owns the site. It’s not realistic that the Northern Regional Planning Panel would approve the DA without Council’s support.
No shame in pulling out; courage is just that – doing something for good despite your fears, or mistakes.
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. 
