The Byron Shire Council says it wants emergency housing pods at Bayside, Brunswick Heads, to stay on council-owned land.

For the last two years, accommodation across the 11 villages throughout the Northern Rivers has been provided free of charge, however the NSW Reconstruction Authority announced yesterday that they would now start chagring rent to those living in the pod villages. 

Children and young people living in the region’s temporary emergency pod villages have been exposed to community and domestic violence, drug-affected residents, and arguments between neighbours, a year long study has found.

Flood-affected residents have had a last-minute reprieve by the NSW Reconstruction Authority, who had planned to spray controversial pesticides at the Bruns pod village.