The Byron Bay treehouse with $20m public liability insurance

A landmark that has encouraged people to reminisce about ‘simple childhood times when many houses had cubbies in long gone backyards’ may have been saved.

UPDATE: The idyllic Byron Bay children’s treehouse will live to see another day after council resolved to authorise a 12-month lease if certain conditions are met.

Byron Shire Council staff recommended the treehouse’s demolition, but councillors had other ideas.

During Thursday’s council meeting, they debated the benefit of the treehouse, safety concerns and access issues before unanimously voting the structure could stay under the sole responsibility of the leaseholder – Mellanie Coppin.

Byron Shire Councillor Alan Hunter

“We either pull it down or let it fall down,” Councillor Alan Hunter said.

“If it’s not worth $490 a year, $10 a week, then it’s not worth anything.”

Termites and the condition of timber was also a concern.

Chambers heard the purpose of the lease and the insurance was putting all the responsibility onto the owner of the lease, not the council.

Deputy mayor Sarah Ndiaye.

Deputy Mayor Sarah Ndiaye likened the treehouse to a ‘cute little detail’ of the Byron community.

“I support the $1 a year lease, it’s a cute little detail, it’s a little bit of character in our community,” Cr Ndiaye said.

There will be a 28-day public exhibition of the lease for the purpose of a ‘children’s treehouse artwork’ to allow for community submissions for and against the structure.

It is expected Ms Coppin will be then granted a 12-month lease if no submissions against the treehouse are submitted.

She must also retain $20 million public liability insurance, ensure the structure does not preclude public transversal through the road reserve, and pay the $1 lease.

EARLIER: A popular Byron Bay landmark described as “a bit of real life lived magic” is facing the chopping block after seven years of joy to the neighbourhood and passers-by.

Mellanie Coppin owns the property at 77 Massinger Street where a children’s treehouse floats between two gums at the T-intersection with Kingsley Street.

“Neighbours can attest to the many people who take photos of it, who literally daily pull up their cars to marvel at it,” she said in one submission to Byron Shire Council.

“The cubby has encouraged conversations and reminiscences about simple childhood times when many houses had cubbies in long gone backyards.

“It has been a precious topic of conversation between children and their parents and grandparents.

Byron Bay mother Mellanie Coppin with the treehouse outside her home. A lease for the use of the road reserve area will go back before Byron Shire Council but the council has recommended its removal. Picture: Savannah Pocock

“For me it is a romantic gesture – to an era of grassroots, DIY, alternative living; all that made Byron Shire an exciting place to be.

“Unlike a commissioned piece of artwork that would attempt to symbolise these ideas – the treehouse is ours and it’s real.

“I think, the Massinger Street Treehouse is a glimpse into a bit of real life lived magic and people enjoy participating in that.”

But the treehouse, which sits between two gum trees, encroaches on the road reserve.

Byron Shire Council voted in 2018 to grant a lease for the treehouse and Ms Coppin has been successful in renewing the lease for $1 each year.

But a report from the council’s general manager ahead of Thursday’s council meeting recommends declining further leases for the children’s treehouse.

The report directs Ms Coppin to remove – at her cost – the children’s treehouse within six months while retaining $20 million public liability cover.

Mellanie Coppin's treehouse in Byron Bay. Picture: Savannah Pocock

Ms Coppin said she had complied with council requests for engineering certificates and even an arborist report to reassure the council the trees were in good health.

“This treehouse is unique,” Ms Coppin said.

“People enjoy coming and taking photos of it.”

Ms Coppin has removed ropes that hung from the treehouse, making the treehouse a landmark rather than being accessible for children to play in.

“It used to have a rope but I removed it and I am proposing to council that the door be boarded up so it can be a nice bird house,” she said.

The council suggests the removal of treehouse access means “the treehouse now sits as private landmark rather than being accessible by children for play”.

Mellanie Coppin's treehouse in Byron Bay. Picture: Savannah Pocock

Ms Coppin, originally from Brunswick Heads, built the treehouse herself, although she admits she should have gone through the correct channels to ensure the structure was approved.

“I built it for my son seven years ago,” Ms Coppin said.

With passers-by often stopping to take photos and comment on the structure, Ms Coppin believes it “satisfies all sorts of things” the council wants to see happen in the shire, like celebrating creativity and community connection.

Councillors will vote on the recommendation at Byron Shire Council’s meeting on Thursday.