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The Byron Shire Echo • Volume 39 #26 • December 4, 2024 • www.echo.net.au
Byron’s new emergency services precinct
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Nil’s work is batty
Environmental Science student from Barcelona, Nil Breton Garcia, has been helping the Byron Environment Centre weed, remove rubbish and repair nest boxes for microbats in the Cumbebin Wetland Sanctuary near Byron’s Butler Street Reserve. The centre is in the process of raising funds to continue repair work on the boardwalk, so that the wetlands can be reopened for everyone to enjoy. To contribute, see BEC members at the rotunda in Railway Park on Friday afternoons. Photo Jeff ‘Batty And Micro Since 1986’ Dawson
Are Landcom’s Mullum housing plans viable? Hans Lovejoy The pressure is on NSW government development agency, Landcom, to explain how their plans for a large 32-unit proposal to replace a busy Mullum car park are achievable. The proposal is located near the town’s entrance roundabout, and, if approved, would be the only threestorey building in the town. Questions by Mullumbimby Residents Association last week reveal that Landcom’s proposal comes without crucial assessments that would determine if the project is viable. For example, when asked about flooding and hydrology, the representatives replied studies are
Byron biz celebrates a big year with awards ▶ p3
underway, yet will be ‘specifically designed with flood-risk in mind’. They also say the ‘ground floor retail and habitable areas will be elevated to meet, or exceed Council’s flood planning control levels’.
¨ſëǔĶĈ ĶŔżëĈƐƆ Likewise, traffic impacts are being ‘reviewed’ – the proposal suggests all traffic would funnel via the laneway, which is regularly used by large trucks unloading for IGA. Landcom claim they are only required to supply 20 parking spaces for 50 plus residents, and as for the 64 plus rubbish bins, Landcom say it will be managed on-site. Concerns about reduced parking
Syrian family welcomed into Bruns ▶ p7
were directed to Council, who are yet to formalise where another car park will be located. According to Landcom, the project can only proceed once the car park is established by Council; they say it will be the land on the corner of Argyle and Prince Street, opposite the former Carsburg site. Yet that is a smaller parcel of land, and does not accord with the town’s masterplan’s vision to reflect Mullumbimby’s ‘green image’. Landcom say that the units have been set at the minimum size required, suggesting that the high bulk and scale is needed to attract a Community Housing Provider (CHP). ▶ Continued on page 4
Works begin on a new Bruns Surf Life Saving Club ▶ p9
lans for a new, state-ofthe-art emergency services precinct in Byron Bay for NSW Police and Fire and Rescue NSW were announced on Tuesday. According to the NSW Labor government media release, the $28 million project will be built on a 6,500-square-metre section of Crown land, within the Sandhills Estate, on the eastern side of Gilmore Crescent, opposite the Youth Activities Centre (YAC). The media statement reads, ‘$20 million was originally allocated in July 2022 to rebuild the Byron Bay police station on its current site. However, size constraints and heritage considerations made redevelopment at that location unfeasible.’ ‘At the same time, the local fire station was identified as requiring significant upgrades. ‘To address these challenges, Fire and Rescue NSW allocated an
additional $8 million, allowing both services to be co-located at a new emergency services precinct. ‘Planning of the facility is underway and construction is expected to begin in early 2026 and finish by the end of 2027. ‘The Sandhills Estate, a 19-hectare area adjacent to the Byron Bay CBD, was historically used for sand mining and is now the focus of extensive planning and redevelopment. ‘The site was secured for the precinct through Aboriginal Land Agreements (ALAs) negotiated by Crown Lands, the NSW Aboriginal Land Council, and the Tweed Byron Local Aboriginal Land Council, settling outstanding land claims and interests’. The statement adds, ‘By colocating NSW Police and Fire and Rescue NSW, the precinct will ensure efficient, resilient, and centrally located services for years to come’.
From left, Mayor Sarah Ndiaye, Chief Inspector, Jeremy Fewtrell, NSW Minister for Police, Yasmin Catley, NSW Police Commissioner, Karen Webb APM, NSW Ballina MP Tamara Smith, NSW Lismore MP Janelle Saffin, and NSW Minister for Emergency Services, Jihad Dib. Photo Jeff Dawson
Festive season treats for those not on the naughty list ▶ p22
Murwillumbah, that magical not-so-faraway land ▶ p29
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