Community housing support Mullumbimby development

THE north coast's largest community housing provider has thrown its support behind a controversial Mullumbimby development.

ABOVE: There are plans for a development in Stuart St, Mullumbimby

THE north coast's largest community housing provider has thrown its support behind a controversial Mullumbimby development saying it will help tackle housing demand in the region.

The Koho development application for ten one-bedroom units on Stuart Street in Mullumbimby was approved by the Byron Shire Council last week.

North Coast Community Housing CEO John McKenna said demand for rentals in the area had long been an issue.

"The demand for well located, long term housing for singles and couples in Mullumbimby and the greater Byron Shire is well documented," he said.

The development received widespread community opposition with 90 submissions made against it while on public exhibition and more than 1,200 signatures on a petition calling for it not to be approved.

The change.org petition said the project would pave the way for Mullumbimby to become "overdeveloped" and negatively impact on parking, neighbouring properties and the town's character.

DESIGN plans for the Mullumbimby Stuart St development from the Byron Shire Council Extraordinary Meeting Agenda

The development application put forward by design and construction company Koho Australia was for 10 one-bedroom attached units at 116 Stuart Street in Mullumbimby.

Three of the units would be managed by a registered community housing provider with the remaining seven available for long-term permanent rental accommodation.

Koho development manager Duncan Band said the affordable housing project was a major step forward in relieving the acute shortage of affordable housing in the Northern Rivers area.

"This combination of community housing and affordable long term rentals is a model that goes a long way in addressing the inequality of housing in the Byron Bay and Mullumbimby area," he said.

"Koho has been working closely with community based non-profit organisations such as North Coast Community Housing in increasing the supply of affordable housing along with models that offer greater choice in assisted living and other forms of specialty housing that give people with disability more options in choosing how they wish to live.

"We strongly believe that more diverse, inclusive communities are stronger communities, and affordable housing is integral to that."

DESIGN plans for the Mullumbimby Stuart St development from the Byron Shire Council Extraordinary Meeting Agenda

In a Byron Shire Council report putting forward the development application for approval, it was noted the applicant had submitted amended plans in reponse to negative community feedback, that changed the design into two buildings each containing five dwellings.

"It is considered the proposal will provide much needed accommodation for singles and couples within close walking distance to the commercial centre of Mullumbimby," the report says.