Byron Shire Council debates DA for 10 house, 10 pool development in centre of Byron Bay
Councillors want to take more time to consider the development’s buffer to protect nearby wetland before they make a final decision on the application, which
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Byron Shire Councillors have deferred their decision on a 10-dwelling development proposal in Byron Bay.
A development application proposing about $5.46 million worth of construction, including 10 homes and 10 swimming pools under a strata subdivision at 7 Keats Street in Byron Bay was lodged with the council last May.
Keats Street runs off Bangalow Road south of the Byron Bay General Store.
Councillors voted to spend more time considering the buffer between the development and nearby coastal wetland when the proposal went before the planning meeting on Thursday, May 13.
This means the DA will be brought back before the council at the May 27 ordinary meeting.
Dwayne Roberts, a town planner representing the applicant, told councillors they had been working on the project “for a long time” and had “amended the design a number of times to satisfy concerns”.
Mr Roberts said they had done everything they could to satisfy all of the council’s requirements.
Neighbouring resident Nick Buckley said Keats Street was “already a traffic nightmare” and claimed the development would make the street’s traffic “unbearable”.
Councillor Cate Coorey asked support to approve the DA only if they reduced the number of homes to eight and removed all of the pools from the plans.
When deputy mayor Sarah Ndiaye asked about this “level of opulence”, Mr Roberts said there was a “high demand for people to have their own pool in Byron”.
“I know it is a large site but because it’s large doesn’t mean it has to be filled to the maximum of its capacity,” Ms Coorey said.
“It’s a beach suburb and the beach is within walking distance.”
She raised concerns about the proximity to wetland and potential impacts on that environment.
Councillor Alan Hunter said the shire was “under the pump for residences”.
“I’m hesitant about reducing the number of units,” he said.
“It’s not for any good reason other than it might be stroking a good feeling.
“These feelings come at a price.”
Councillor Paul Spooner said the proposed scale reduction was based on a “non-planning argument”.
“I think what we’ve got presented here through the staff recommendation (to approve the DA) is a very reasonable outcome to provide 10 more dwellings to the Byron community.”
Mayor Michael Lyon said there weren’t major objective issues with the DA.
“We have to accept we are in a high development pressure area,” Mr Lyon said.
“That’s the reality we face.
“We need to make decisions based on planning regulations or we’re going to be in court a lot.”
A motion to approve the development, supported by Mr Hunter, Mr Spooner and Jan Hackett, was lost and a majority of councillors voted to defer their decision for two weeks.
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