Tweed Council has insisted that a Turnock St development use court-ordered sand to protect rainforest, and a rare snail, rejecting the developer’s attempt to vary the conditions.

Serious concerns have been raised over the Byron Shire Residential Strategy 2041 by the 12 Byron Shire-wide associations that make up Community Alliance for Byron Shire (CABS).

Mayor Michael Lyon told Mullum residents that he has the numbers to remove floodplain development but will push through the Residential Strategy that aims for 4,522 homes by 2041.

A proposal by a landowner and Council staff to mitigate flooding and enable development on large floodplain lots on 75 New City Road has been roundly criticised by Council’s Floodplain Committee members and residents as not only unworkable, but a danger to life should it be approved. 

Once again the public is being asked to comment on the developer plans for the flood and fire prone Iron Gates development site near Evans Head as the developer continues to appeal the refusal.

The clearing of the site on the banks of Cobaki Creek to progress a 27-year old development approval has triggered Tweed Shire Councillors to seek legal advice on what can be done about legacy/zombie developments. 

The risk that legacy and zombie development approvals on floodplains represent is significant, yet local councils appear hamstrung to take any real action on the issue without significant financial risks to individual councils. 

The state government continues to say that councils have the ability to deal with problematic floodplain development approvals, but the evidence seems to say otherwise. So why won't the take action?

The additional flooding risk to existing housing and infrastructure caused by new development on floodplains is a serious issue for communities throughout NSW, in particular, legacy or ‘zombie’ approvals.

The continued clearing taking place by Dubbo developer MAAS at 60 Tringa Street, Tweed Heads on the Cobaki Estuary of Tweed River continues to leave residents frustrated.