Around The Traps Archive

Local Byron architect Christine Vadasz has been awarded a Life Fellowship by the Australian Institute of Architects (AIA). Her quirky, unique and environmentally sensitive buildings are scattered throughout Byron Shire and the Northern Rivers. She and her partner, Oliver Dunn, have contributed significantly to the area’s creativity and culture. Christine visited the area to design a house in Wategos Beach and stayed. She also worked for radical architect Bill Lucas in Sydney, who was part of the Aquarius Festival in 1973. The film Aquarius has now been released and is worth a watch if you want to understand this area’s alternative roots.

There is lots to love about Brunswick Heads. What’s not to love about Simple Pleasures? However, there are a couple of things that need some attention.

Brunswick Heads Fish Coop

I spent some time at the Brunswick Heads Boat Harbour and Marina over the Xmas break. What a sorry state it is in. Eight years ago, it was closed for redevelopment, but nothing has happened since. When there are overlapping government departments, a demanding developer and stakeholders resistant to change, things can get bogged down. Anyone who has visited the marinas at Bermagui or Port Macquarie will know what a good boat harbour facility can look like. In Bruns, many moored boats look like hulks, and I worry for the occupant’s safety. Since the toilet block is closed, are all those sedentary sailors releasing raw sewage into the river? I am not swimming at Torakina anymore. That is a simple pleasure I will do without.

South Beach Road, Brunswick Heads

The council has released the plans to redo South Beach Road – from the bridge to the Lifesaving Club. Unfortunately, the plans released are all about car traffic and parking, but many pedestrians and bikes use that route to the beach. People I have talked to who know about these things explain that bikes and pedestrians will now have “shared access” on the road in a 10km zone. That would be fine, but apparently, there is no money to differentiate the look of the road to drivers, and it could be a safety risk.

Brunswick Heads Surf Lifesaving Club

Visitors to Bruns Beach will see that the Lifesaving Club is also about to be pulled down and rebuilt. This has been a long time coming, and the existing building has passed its use-by-date. Unfortunately, the Clubbies only have enough to build the ground floor and will need another $2.5 million to finish the first floor. This is for the restaurants and facilities that generate income. Here is the website, but the donate page link is not functioning. It would be great if someone could inform them, as I am sure they are missing out on donations.

Saddle Road and Mullumbimby Road intersection.

The proposed development site at 66 Saddle Road Brunswick Heads is creeping along slowly. This 125-acre site has been approved for residential and social housing through Group Homes and an industrial “Business Park”. The site has been earmarked for some development since the original LEP in 1988, so this is not an overnight sensation.

The contentious issue is the access road where Saddle Road meets Mullumbimby Road, which is on a crest with terrible sight lines. Most drivers are looking at the tip of Mount Chincogan as you crest the hill – a sight I never tire of. Finding an alternative access off Gulgan Road with a roundabout is proving difficult. The other argument against this development site is that we should build on a ridgeline and keep preserving the rural look of the shire. I sympathise with this view, but what do we do if we can’t build on floodplains or ridgelines? We probably need to accept more medium-density developments on suitable sites. That is a conversation well overdue.

Even with spectacular scenery and a gorgeous coastline, Byron Bay may have remained a rural hick town without two things happening. First, there was the influx of dedicated surfers from the USA and some from Oz in the sixties. Then, in 1973, the Aquarius festival happened nearby in the hinterland. Originally destined to be in Main Arm, it finally took over and recycled the dying dairy town of Nimbin.

Tricia Shantz’s terrific book Neverland documents the arrival and settling of the Surfie culture. Now, the documentary Aquarius gives a detailed and fascinating look into the creation and impact of what has been called Australia’s Woodstock. These creative ventures provide a good overview of why Byron is the way it is. Aquarius was the opening night feature at this year’s very successful Byron Bay Film Festival and will soon be rolled out into cinemas.

The Northern Rivers Community Foundation is the peak charity organisation in the Northern Rivers. This year marks its 20th year, and it has so far given away $10 Million to essential services and other not-for-profits. To celebrate this milestone, this year’s grants event will be bigger and better, and they want people to know about it and hopefully get involved. This year’s Grants Event is Thursday, 21st of November, from 4.30-7.30 pm, at the Elements of Byron. If you would like to go, contact NRCF through their website.

It is not often that a landowner is relieved when a property they own drops in value. A 15 Ha vacant land site in Belongil Beach owned by John Cornell and partner Delvene Delaney’s Hammock Investments has dropped in value by 90%. They took the NSW Valuer General to court to pay only $980 in land tax rather than $87,500.

The late John (Strop) Cornell and Film and TV partner Paul Hogan were early celebrity residents of Byron Shire, moving here in the mid-80s. Cornell was a significant investor in Byron Shire real estate and did well. He produced the Crocodile Dundee movie, which remains the highest-grossing film ever made in Australia. The Belongil Beach land was purchased in 1987 for $200,000. The significant reduction from over $8 million to $810,000 was because it was removed from the BSC’s Residential Strategy, making it unlikely to be a development site.

The new council is settling into the chamber and learning the ropes. Only three of the nine are experienced, and there is much to learn. People fond of council gossip ask what will happen if Cr Michael Lyon, who faces an impending court decision in March of next year, is found guilty. In August, he was charged with common assault and stalking. Later in October, he was again charged with breaching the AVO.

There is no legal obligation for him to resign. He still maintains he is innocent of the charges. If he does resign, the procedure is for there to be a Countback Election. This is where the resigning councillor is removed from the vote count, and the computer button calculating preferential voting is pressed once again. The vote is recounted as if that candidate was not in the race. The most likely replacements will be Max Foggon, who was second on Michael Lyon’s Independent Team. Ironically, he will become the youngest member in the chamber, as he is younger than Elia Hauge. Or, the irony of ironies could be Mark Swivel, number three on the labour team. Once mates with Cr Lyon, but now there is no love lost between the two.

Most people are not aware that Byron Shire Council has finally released its Residential Land Strategy. This important document will dictate new housing coming online for the next few decades. It promises much-needed new housing, mainly around Mullumbimby and Brunswick Heads. It will include a small amount of social and affordable housing included in an innovative Community Land Trust on Saddle Road in Brunswick Heads. We need a lot more of it to keep the diverse nature of our community now that house and land prices are so high.

Byron Shire is full of interesting and unique people. I often come across residents who have amazing life stories. Chris Dewhurst is one of them, and his story of setting up Byron Bay Ballooning would be enough. But his recent book about his life includes drug running for the CIA, mountain climbing challenging peaks, and ballooning over Everest. He had to wait 50 years to tell the story, and Everest, Guns and Money is a page-turner. If you want your local adventure, take off with Chris and his team for a ballooning flight over Byron Shire with Byron Bay Ballooning. Chris will be at the Byron Bay Writers Festival this month.

On September 24th, “unhosted” Short-Term Holiday Letting in Byron Shire will be reduced to a maximum of 60 days per year. It will be interesting to see if it works as intended. With all the new hotels popping up in town, it looks like the accommodation industry may be looking ahead. We recently did an article on the soon-to-be-transformed Jonson street, with many new developments underway. The latest to join the ranks is Basq House, whose address is 4 Fletcher Lane. However, it can be seen on Marvel Street opposite the not-dissimilar Hotel Marvell. Many other LGAs are watching to see if this is going to work as we are not alone in having a problem with the holiday letting industry.

It would be great to get more bike lanes in the shire, and this would be a really good one, especially if you live in Brunswick Heads or Ocean Shores. Most people living in Ocean Shores must take a circuitous route to the beach. That route is also up a high hill, so it is hard to walk or bike. This proposed walking and bike path would be well utilised. Please sign this petition, and let’s push it along.

It seems we have a theme around units developing in this issue of the Newsletter. An emerging problem with unit holders who are also owners of EVs (Electric Vehicles) is how to build enough charging units. It looks like this company, Smartpoint enables EV drivers to plug in their safe portable charger, which comes with the vehicle, and pay for its usage. The installation cost of $299 seems very reasonable.

Unfortunately, the new EV charging units being rolled out by the Minns government will not benefit us in the regions. For now, they are only for Sydney and Newcastle.

Byron Shire residents interested in housing issues could do well to attend this event. Cr Mark Swivel has been conversing with local experts on various topics over May and June. On Wednesday, June 19th, the last one will be on housing — A Fair Go. The panellists will be developer Brandon Saul, someone on the front line of creating new affordable housing, and Belinda Mackie, the former NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commissioner. Tickets are available through Humatix.

At least once a year I speak at the Byron and Beyond Networking breakfasts. Next month, it will be at the Galery Cafe in Ballina on June 19th. It is fun, and I get to talk about the Northern Rivers property market, which I never tire of. It starts at 7:30am and includes an excellent breakfast and coffee. There will also be lots of time for questions and discussion. Hope to see you there.

It’s millionaires versus billionaires in the exclusive enclave of Wategos Beach. Long-term residents are arching-up against the uber-wealthy newcomers who max out the 9-metre height limit. Councillor Asren Pugh thinks the new mansions look out of place, and there needs to be a new height limit of 8 metres. When the foundations are dug into the high slope and the three stories are built, they look like high rises. Mayor Michael Lyon thinks it is hard to make a specific height limit for one area only.

ABC Landline TV recently did a segment on Byron Bay. The focus was balancing the high demand for developable land while maintaining enough fertile farmland. It’s still an ongoing issue. It’s worth a look – click here to watch.