WHY CAN’T WE SPELL IT JUST WENSDAY? The Byron Shire Echo • Volume 39 #28 • December 18, 2024 • www.echo.net.au
ĶşĎĶưĕſƆĶƐƷ şǔĶĈĕſ could return to Byron Council
The great SGB Santa chase
The position of a senior biodiversity officer is likely to return to Byron Council, after councillors unanimously voted at their Thursday meeting to hold a confidential ‘workshop’ meeting with executive staff to explore options. During the debate around Council approving the Wallum urban development in the last term, it emerged that Council had removed the position, and the DA came without that assessment.
Position dropped
Shara Community Gardens in North Ocean Shores held its annual Christmas in the Gardens event on Sunday. There was live music from Phil & Tilley, a scavenger hunt, plenty of food and the fastest runner on Clifford Street comp. But the highlight for the kids was a visit from Santa. The event was supported by Byron Shire Council. Photo Jeff ‘In The Way Again’ Dawson
Ecologically sensitive land makes way for new industry estate Paul Bibby A $4.3 million industrial development will be built on a sensitive greenfield site next to the Harvest housing estate in West Byron after receiving approval from Byron Shire councillors. The subdivision, to be built at 288 Ewingsdale Road, will see the site divided into 17 industrial lots varying in area from 11,447m2 to 13,897m2.
The project was approved at last week’s Council meeting after the developer, Hannas Contracting Services, took Council to the NSW Land and Environment Court over its ‘deemed refusal’ of the development application.
ǤǡǽǝǝǝŔdz şĪ Ǖōō With the project receiving the green light, Hannas is now free to truck a total of 74,000m3 of fill onto the site in a bid to mitigate
Large Wategos DA knocked back ▶ p3
the risks of flooding. It will also build an access road that will feed into and out of Ewingsdale Road, adding dozens of additional truck movements to the main artery each day. Documents show that the land slated for development includes an area of wetland that is home to a number of threatened native species, including two different types of acid frog. The developer has undertaken
not to build in this particular area, and to compensate for the sizeable areas of other vegetation that will be cleared to make way for the development. While the consultant hired by the developer gave the proposal a clean bill of health in terms of its environmental and flood impacts, former Greens councillor Duncan Dey told last week’s Council meeting that the storm water analysis ▶ Continued on page 2
Council’s advisory committees slashed ▶ p8
Mullum is a town full of delights and curiosities ▶ p22
Sydney SSy y police b blitz area for pot ▶ p4
Council’s former senior biodiversity officer, who is now a consultant, explained to councillors during the Wallum debate how the process was flawed. Former mayor Michael Lyon had used his casting vote to proceed with Wallum. Last week’s motion, as moved by Mayor Sarah Ndiaye, reads in part that councillors will receive clarification around ‘the current methods and effectiveness of ▶ Continued on page 4
Echo Christmas opening hours Next week’s paper will come out on Monday, December 23 (not Wednesday, Christmas Day). The classified deadline will be COB on Thursday, 19 December. The Echo office will be closed from Monday, 23 to Thursday, December 26, reopening Friday, December 27, and closed New Year’s Day.
The festive season’s jingly crescendo beckons ▶ p24
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