Development application lodged for long-awaited new RFS shed at Lennox Head

For more than 10 years, the Rural Fire Service and a Northern Rivers council have been discussing plans for a new fire shed. Is it finally on the right track?

Plans are progressing for a new shed for the Lennox Head Rural Fire Service.

There have been discussions about the need for a new Rural Fire Service facility at Lennox Head for more than a decade.

The current shed is in Park Lane, but it was only meant to be a temporary location.

In 2010 the brigade received approval and was ready to build on a site on The Coast Road, but it ended up being too close to a significant Aboriginal midden.

Ballina Shire Council then identified an alternative site on Ross Lane.

That site also had problems, this time around access, flooding and unacceptable response times to the Lennox CBD.

But now plans for the new RFS shed could actually be moving forward.

A development application has been lodged with the council for a site on Byron Bay Road.

The DA for the $580,000 project is on public exhibition until May 13.

A development application has been lodged for a new fire shed on Byron Bay Road, Lennox Head.

The site is currently vacant and previously contained a house and associated outbuildings, which have since been demolished.

The proposed new RFS shed would be a single storey building with two truck parking spaces, a storeroom, office, kitchenette and amenities.

“It is noted that the site will also contain a future preschool with earthworks, carparking and access for the preschool proposed within this application,” the report to the council states.”

“A future application for the preschool will be submitted to council in due course.

“The site is strategically located close to key road corridors to provide an essential service to Lennox Head and its surrounds.

There have been issues with the RFS’ existing shed in Park Lane, Lennox Head.

“Given the nature of the proposal and the limited use, noise generated from the site is expected to be minimal.

“During times of emergencies, noise will be generated from sirens and the like.

“However, given the location, separation to sensitive receivers and the sporadic nature of the sirens etc, it is not considered that the proposal will create an undue impact upon residents in proximity to the site,

“It is also relatively removed from residential dwellings so as not to cause conflicts.”