V O I C E , T R E A T Y, T R U T H – I T ’ S T I M E The Byron Shire Echo • Volume 37 #33 • January 25, 2023 • www.echo.net.au
Land values are up Paul Bibby
Fiesta hall vibes A garden fiesta, put on by Bruns-based business Mahico, drew a large local crowd last weekend at Durrumbul Hall. There were plenty of beats and eats, all with a Columbian or Mexican flavour. Pictured are Valentina and Shi. Photo Jeff ‘Feeling It’ Dawson
Unapproved cabin stop order upheld Paul Bibby The NSW Land & Environment Court has upheld Byron Council’s decision to order a local landowner to stop renting out a 40-year-old rural cabin in Middle Pocket because it was an unapproved dwelling. In a decision with potential implications for the owners of other ‘unauthorised’ dwellings in the Shire, the court found that Council’s Stop Use Order issued in relation to the ‘Kioda Hut’ in Middle Pocket last year was lawful, and should remain in place. The landowner, represented in the proceedings by the tenant who had
been living in the cabin for a number of years, had appealed the decision. Acting Commissioner, Maureen Peatman, said in her reasons for the decision, ‘The [landowner] submitted that I should exercise my discretion and permit the cabin to remain as a dwelling, because of the shortage of accommodation in the North Coast of NSW as a direct result of the extreme flooding of that area over the last 12 to 18 months, and the bushfires in 2019.’
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Planning for Bushfire Protection 2019 – of ember strike, bushfire, and the limited road access to, and from, the cabin.’ The court heard that the cabin was in a ‘high risk’ area, under Council’s bushfire mapping, and fire safety was a ‘crucial issue’ for the site, which had not been cleared in accordance with bushfire protection regulations. There was also evidence of limited road access to the cabin. ‘Historically, vehicular access to the cabin has been occurring via Middle Pocket Road through a neighbour’s land,’ Acting Commissioner ▶ Continued on page 3
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flood-affected locations such as north south and central Lismore fell. Commercial land values also increased 24.1 per cent across the north coast. The Ballina Shire saw a moderate increase of 14.9 per cent in the value of commercial land, with the flood-impacted CBD experiencing moderate to slight increases.
Large parts of the North Coast may have gone under during the 2022 floods, but they appear to have done little to dampen land values for much of the region. In somewhat surprising figures that could herald land tax and Council rate increases over the next 12 months, the NSW Valuer ‘An increase in Byron’s commercial General said that the total land ōëŕĎ ưëōƖĕƆ ſĕǕĕĈƐĕĎ ĈşŕƐĶŕƖĕĎ value for the region increased ƆƐſĕŕīƐIJ Ķŕ ƐIJĕ Ʒſşŕ ƐşƖſĶƆŔ ƆĕĈƐşſ by 35.9 per cent in the 12 ëŕĎ ĶŕưĕƆƐşſ ĎĕŔëŕĎțȁ months to July last year. Land value is the value of Lennox Head and Wollongbar the land only and does not include both increased strongly owing to the value of a home or other tight supply. structure. An increase in Byron’s commerThe significant increase was cial land values reflected continued driven, according to the Valuer strength in the Byron tourism General, by residential values, sector and investor demand, but which climbed by 36.8 per cent Lismore’s had decreased 23.9 per over the period. cent following the floods. ‘Demand for rural villages, Rural land values increased 37.4 hinterland and beachside locations continue as sea- and tree-changers per cent across the region. Byron Shire’s rural land relocate to work remotely,’ the recorded a 26.1 per cent increase, Valuer General said. with values remaining steady in ‘This trend was particularly flood-impacted localities including evident in Coffs Harbour (46.7 per Main Arm and Mullumbimby. cent), Port Macquarie (38 per cent) There was a strong demand for and Clarence Valley (46.5 per cent).’ rural homes and hobby farms in Byron up by 18.2 per cent areas like Myocum and Bangalow. The Byron Shire experienced a Land values are one factor used smaller than average increase of 18.2 by councils to calculate rates. per cent, according to the report. Revenue NSW also uses them There were significant decreases to calculate land tax for the 2023 in flood-affected Ocean Shores land tax year. From this month on, and South Golden Beach, but landholders will receive a notice of these were offset by increases in valuation showing their land value Brunswick Heads, Suffolk Park and before it is used by Council for rating. elevated parts of Byron Bay. The latest land values for all properLismore saw increased demand ties are also available on the Valuer (31.5 per cent) in flood-free areas General NSW website, along with such as Goonellabah, Lismore information on trends, medians and Heights and Richmond Hill, while typical land values for each LGA.
A feast for the senses What’s happening Ella Noah-Bancroft in The Good Life in the Byron Arts & asks a timely ▶ p18 Industry Estate? ▶ p24 question ▶ p26
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