The Byron Shire Echo
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In this week: Big lift -out program – see centre pages The Byron Shire Echo • Volume 33 #23 • Wednesday, November 14, 2018 • www.echo.net.au Raising the roof Town about to get tuneful Councillors push to raise height limits in Byron’s CBD Hans Lovejoy as ‘simply scaremongering and untrue,’ that a massive proposal on Has a longheld desire by residents the corner of Jonson and Brown- to maintain a three-storey CBD ing Streets will set a precedent of height limit in Byron Bay been ‘allowing an increase to four storeys ignored by councillors? all along Jonson Street.’ At the September 20 meet- A contentious mixed residential/ ing, a bloc of Greens and Labor commercial proposal, headed by councillors overturned a previous Graham Dunn, was determined 2010 Greens policy of limiting Wednesday (today) by the JRPP development in the southern area and came with requests to exceed of Jonson Street to 9m. height limits and floorspace ratios. A motion by Cr Paul Spooner was supported to standardise the Mayor plays down town’s height limit at 11.5m, which massive development The Echo understands can accom- modate four storeys. The mayor said of the develop- Other parts of Byron’s CBD had ment, ‘This is unique for the CBD The buzz is building for the eleventh Mullum Music Festival, to be held this coming weekend. Held throughout 9m limits. and won’t lead to any rush on four the town’s venues and streets, the festival has grown to include two new venues – The Byron School of Art and Crs Richardson, Spooner, storeys.’ the Council Chambers – for comedy! So how are rehearsals going for Sunday’s big street parade? ‘Brilliantly!’ Hunter, Martin, Ndiaye and Hack- ‘If four storeys were possible or says festival director Glenn Wright. ‘There are more people involved than ever – who knew that the town had ett voted in favour of the motion, easy, they would have occurred so many horn players?’ Pictured are performers Sara Tindley and Ash Bell. Photo Jeff Dawson while Cr Cameron voted against. over the last 20 or more years of Crs Lyon and Coorey were not 11.5m height limits.’ present for the vote. But remarkably he agreed Jonson St development would Council’s request to the state that his support to increase the government is yet to be determined, height limit ‘may well result in say staff , with exhibition of the plan- an increased yield and profit’ for ‘tower’ over guesthouse ning proposal to follow if approved. the developer. The mayor and Cr Yet Greens mayor Simon Rich- Spooner deny meeting Dunn or Chris Dobney approved by the state government in a ‘development squeeze’ that ardson and Cr Paul Spooner (Labor) his associates prior to the motion (see adjacent story). ‘threatens our residential amenity, have defended their vote on raising being voted upon. By the time you read this, the Joint The Echo understands any our recurrent financial position and height limits in Byron’s CBD, which Yet the mayor defended the Regional Planning Panel (JRPP) will JRPP approval of the DA would the capital values of our properties’. could see 11.5m high developments large-scale development, saying have decided, or deferred, approval eff ectively pre-empt it – the current down to the end of Jonson Street. that ‘The building is also not 12.5m of a $21m, four-storey residential height limit for that end of Jonson mşǖşşſƆżëĈĕſëƐĶşōĶŔĶƐ Cr Richardson told The Echo, [as claimed by the residents group], and commercial development at Street is nine metres. ‘This has occurred basically ‘11.5m is the current [height restric- but rather the overwhelming the southern end of Jonson Street. But Peter O’Connor, proprietor because Council’s new height con- tion] for the overwhelming amount majority is on or under 11.5m, with Yet adjoining residents say it of The Palms Guesthouse, told trols for Jonson Street to replace of the CBD [other areas are 9m], only two lift shaft s being higher – to would ‘tower’ over their properties The Echo that even the developers the LEP clears the way for a very and hasn’t allowed for four storeys, a highest point of 12.2m.’ with balconies that would ‘peer’ admit that because of the slope of intense DA, up to 13.5m high and thus it is not the height limit that The mayor added, ‘I will be into their backyards. the land, the building will be 12.2m with no floorspace ratio limit, to has done so, but the unique lay of speaking at the JRPP against Council has endorsed the devel- high at the point where it would be considered and approved by its the land in this instance.’ the proposal and its height opment application, even though abut Ruskin Lane. off icers alone and seemingly allow- And the mayor dismissed claims exceedance.’ a council planning proposal to Mr O’Connor says his property ing the conversion of Ruskin Lane by the Byron Residents Group ▶ Continued on page 2 raise the height limits has yet to be and another at 1 Ruskin Lane are into a commercial thoroughfare.’ Byron Shire Race on down to Recycle like the Discover the Byron What are our Council the Bangalow Show planet depends Arts & Industry artistic folk Notices ▶ p8 this weekend ▶ p16 on it! ▶ p18 Estate ▶ p19 up to? ▶ p22 NEW ARRIVALS INCOMING! AMAZING CLEARANCE SALE ON ALL OUR QUALITY STOCK TILES. COME SEE US TODAY IN OUR BYRON BAY SHOWROOMS. 4/64 Centennial Circuit, Byron Bay • 02 6680 8542 [email protected] www.cipriano.com.au Local News For North Coast news online visit More than 1,200 spectators Mullum’s big show day poured into Shearwater last Shearwater week to witness the colour, energy and remarkable crea- tivity on show at this year’s goes goth Wearable Arts performance event, Homecoming: Laby- rinth of Twists and Turns. The annual event involved more than 200 students and showcased 86 competition garments made by the Mul- lumbimby Steiner school’s students, staff and the wider community, who shared in almost $8,000 in prizemoney. One of the judges at the A big part of the Mullum Show is the trotting race. event, Richard Weakley, said Photo Jeff ‘Trotsky’ Dawson the calibre of costumes this year set a new benchmark. There were new additions needlework or prized animal. ‘A dizzying parade of style to last weekend’s Mullum There were also petting and skill had us scrutinising Show, with the Macadamia stalls, showgirl awards, small details to try to set Castle’s Petting Zoo making circus shows, truck shows, the entrants apart from its debut. live music, food and the one another, such was the And it wouldn’t be a show Chini Store’s Tug-O-War. craft smanship and creativity without the competitions for It all wrapped on Sunday Serena Susanna-Davies’s piece Chained Collector. Photo Jarrah Hatchett on display.’ best veggies, photography, with the demolition derby. Councillors push to raise height limits in Byron’s CBD Find us on Uki Buttery Facebook ▶ Continued from page 1 more hotel-style accommo- Yet there ‘was no real So given that, ‘participants Bazaar Market Cr Spooner replies dation. That’s not a brilliant consensus around’ the 11.5m were asked to consider Last of the 70s style markets outcome for the town centre.’ limit by attendees, staff said what the maximum building Meanwhile Cr Spooner When asked if Cr Spooner in their report. height in metres should be… Third Sunday of every month told The Echo the proposed believed the Jonson/ According to staff , those There was no real consensus changes to CBD height Browning Street proposal an attendees included, ‘Business around this,’ they concluded. NEXT MARKET Sunday limits ‘Were not about an appropriate development, he owners and managers, land Council’s Shannon Burt 18 November, 8am–2pm individual DA’, when asked replied, ‘I have no particular owners, real estate agents, told The Echo, ‘Council resolu- whether he agreed that it opinion on this development architects, urban designers, tion diff ers from staff report would benefit Dunn’s large- as it has not come before residents, solicitors, develop- recommendation for south- LIVE MUSIC scale proposal. Council for determination.’ ers and councillors from ern end of Jonson Street.’ ‘The completion of the Community process both Byron Shire and Tweed ‘The height of buildings is MANTLEPEACE bypass will be a game Heads… The Arakwal staff and specifically defined in the LEP A Musical collaboration of changer for that end of Underpinning councillors’ board and the Byron Bay Guid- and pertains to natural ground Sanne Kenna & Jake Mann. Jonson Street. decision to standardise the ance group were also engaged level and maximum height Joined by friends. ‘Without this new height height limit at 11.5m appears via individual meetings.’ above. As a result, the design Check out ‘SO I CAN BE’ on Youtube. limit, we will not be enabling to be a ‘community engage- Staff said, ‘The Town of a building in response to a shop-top residential as an ment panel’, where zoning, Centre Masterplan showed site’s topography can result in DON’T MISS: ART SHOW IN THE HALL economic possibility in this building heights, design strong support for maintain- a storey variation. The number section of Jonson Street. And excellence and parking were ing a three-storey height of storeys and ceiling heights Food, music, coffee, clothing, books, plants, art & craft, that’s built into this proposal all discussed by around 60 limit in the town centre.’ within a building are not able second hand & much more..