The development application (DA.10.2025.212.1) for the 57 Station Street carpark site is going before the Northern Rivers Planning Panel (NRPP) on Monday, 19 October at 2pm.
This is despite councillor Michael Lyon, formerly a strong advocate for the development, recently admitting that ‘the DA lodged by Landcom “was pretty broadly unacceptable”.’
Cr Lyon and Cr David Warth had lodged an urgency motion at the last Council meeting ‘that Council: 1. Advise Landcom it no longer supports the use of the carpark at 57 Station Street, Mullumbimby for an affordable housing development. 2. Requests the state government to work with Council on an alternative project [at 70 Station St Mullumbimby on the block north of Woolworths] on Station Street, which has a far higher level of community support and preference.’
The vote was narrowly lost on Mayor Sarah Ndiaye’s casting vote.
Voice your concerns
As a result of the 19 October public meeting being postponed, Mullumbimby Residents Association (MRA) is encouraging locals to register to speak to the NRPP on this DA, and will be holding a drop-in workshop for anyone interested in speaking at the hearing.
‘Anyone who wishes to speak at the hearing must register with the NRPP by Thursday, 15 October. There is no limit on the number of people who can register. The Chair will decide the speaking order and may adjust speaking times if numbers are high. People register to speak either as an individual or on behalf of a community group, not both,’ said a spokesperson for MRA.
Byron Shire Council’s assessment report and the draft conditions of consent will be published on the NRPPs website at least seven days before the hearing, so by Monday, 12 October at the latest.
‘The NRPP will have read all written submissions before the meeting. It has asked speakers to focus on how the assessment report has addressed their concerns rather than repeat their submissions,’ explained MRA.
Workshops
Anyone who is registered, seeking support to get their thoughts in order to speak at the hearing can join the MRA’s drop-in workshop on Friday 16 October, at the Mullumbimby Ex-Services Club, from 4pm to 7pm.
‘The workshop will help people with the information they wish to present on the issues that concern them, arising out of Council’s assessment report on the DA, and with any other questions,’ said the MRA spokesperson.
For more information contact: [email protected].
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