FULLY COSTED AND SHOVEL-READY ELECTION ISSUE The Byron Shire Echo • Volume 37 #40 • March 15, 2023 • www.echo.net.au
Mediation fails over ōëſīĕ ƖǔşōŊ '
Feros board refuse to provide evidence of facility closure claims
Paul Bibby The battle over a controversial mixed-used development proposed for the main street of Suffolk Park looks set to go to a full hearing in the Land and Environment Court with Byron Shire Council, after the courtordered conciliation process failed. Councillors heard last week at their meeting that the behindclosed-doors mediation process between its lawyers, and those hired by the Sydney developer, Denwol Suffolk Park Pty Ltd, had not produced a resolution and was now at an end. As a result, the matter must go to trial, and has been set down for a five-day hearing from June 5–9. Located next to the existing Suffolk Park retail precinct on Clifford Street, the development proposes two new three-storey buildings incorporating seven town houses, four units, 12 affordable housing ▶ Continued on page 4
Hans Lovejoy & Eve Jeffery
Ready for żëſŊ ĪƖŕ ƐIJĶƆ ƱĕĕŊĕŕĎȃ Psst: a free arts festival for kids and families will be held March 18–19, in Banner Park, Brunswick Heads (opposite the pub). Presented by Roundabout Theatre, the Sidestep Kids Festival includes arts and craft workshops, live music, circus, dance, comedy, game playing, storytelling, singing, collaborative construction and more. Pictured with Brunswick Public kids is Amber Light, the Lollipop Lady, who obviously has control issues. She’ll get to call the shots at the ‘Giant Game’. Photo Jeff ‘Lollipopiscles’ Dawson
Fresh STRA audits and prosecutions ahead Paul Bibby Hundreds of locals who are renting out their studios and granny flats on Airbnb, in breach of consent conditions agreed with Byron Council, could face prosecution under a new measure introduced last week. In the latest attempt to address Byron Shire’s housing emergency, councillors unanimously voted to enforce the consent conditions, a move that they hope will encourage the owners of secondary dwellings
Election candidates Q&A! ▶ p2
to move them from the short-term accommodation (STRA) to the longterm rental market. The new enforcement strategy will particularly apply to property owners who made use of Council’s policy of waiving development contributions on the construction of new secondary dwellings in return for an agreement that the new dwelling would not be used for short-term holiday letting. Having accepted the terms of this consent condition, and saved themselves up to $20,000,
A primer on NSW politics and why it matters ▶ p14
it’s estimated hundreds of local property owners turned around and rented the secondary dwellings out on Airbnb anyway. ‘We have followed up with letters to owners, and we only got responses from half,’ Byron Mayor, Michael Lyon, told last week’s Council Planning meeting, where the motion was passed. ‘I don’t think many were admitting to the use of holiday let for those properties, but we have plenty of evidence that many of those dwellings aren’t being used
Who needs science or data on housing when money talks? ▶ p16
in accordance with the consent conditions.’ Council staff estimate that there are between 500 and 700 property owners who fit into this category. It isn’t the first time Council has attempted to enforce the consent condition in question. In a number of cases, the owners in question stopped renting their secondary dwelling on Airbnb to avoid prosecution. In at least one other instance, Council gave up on the prosecution ▶ Continued on page 4
Lettuce do lunch ▶ p22
Health & Healing ▶ p24
With Feros announcing it will redevelop its aged care facility in Byron Bay, the management board, through a public relations manager, have declined to provide The Echo with evidence that the aged care home does not ‘meet the current government standards as a residential care facility’. The Echo sought confirmation of claims by the Feros board that the facility ‘cannot be upgraded to meet the current government standards as a residential care facility and has to close’. The Echo asked, ‘Is there a report, or government document, that supports this claim?’. The board replied, ‘There are many factors that make it impossible for Feros Care Byron Bay to remain open in its current form. This is because the home now needs to meet the more stringent requirements of nursing home standards’. It comes as elderly residents, some of whom had just secured a spot in the facility, met on Sunday to discuss their eviction. All the residents (around 40) have been offered a home in similar Feros facilities in Kingscliff and Bangalow. In a statement, the Feros board said so far, ‘more than 50 per cent of the residents have chosen where they would like to go for their next home. Feros Care is supporting the residents in their preferences and moves in a caring and respectful manner’. ▶ Continued on page 7
Fun for the whole family to be found in Seven Entertainment ▶ p27
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