Voice of Byron has enjoyed various viewpoints and comments this week on the Byron Bay Town Centre Bypass Appeal Dismissed story. But they’ve all ignored the elephant in the room.
Opinions covered the whole spectrum from complete horror at the decision, to Don Page’s ability to think, to how hopeles Council is through to “what a great idea, about time”.
Paul Waters said, “This outcome was always predictable – pity we had to waste $450,000 of our rate payers hard earned funds – I wonder if we can get a cost order awarded to recover the money?” but Cr Sarah Ndiaye assued us, “Nope, not going to happen.”
Paul Anthony Jones took offense at Paul’s comment: “Paul you are now being totally offensive! The Minister for Transport just release 01/06/17 a letter confirming they would be open to a rail corridor bypass proposal,”he said.
“Byron Shire Council has lied to the public all along – they have falsified documents, they have misrepresented and they have wasted $millions in scheming to get their way. 600 writen objections to their proposal and only one in favour.
“Get real about what the community wants.”
Paul Waters’ reply clarified his perspective, “I understand you are all feeling very disappointed – I take no pleasure in that and I can assure you, I know you are good and decent people.
“I don’t intent to hurl insults or slurs back in response – it’s time to move on.
The Elephant in the Room
The elephant in the room of course, is the railway land itself. Not just the bit involving the Butler Street bypass, but the whole lot from the Belongil to the other side of Bangalow.
Council wants to spend a quarter-mill or more to “investigate” it. Some want it for bike trails. Other want to resurrect a rail service. Byron Shire Council’s General Manager Ken Gainger wants locals to ‘reimagine a space and take it from unloved and unlock its potential for community use’.
But everyone is ignoring the other possible scenario.
The NSW Government could negotiate, and may well be negotiating, behind-the-scenes sales of portions of our railway land to private concerns.
If that happens, as it already has in Victoria, there is no point in wasting Council money on studies and no point in dreaming about the other visions our readers have expressed.
I’m a tad concerned that for $200.000+ we could be buying a ‘White Elephant’ that the ratepayers will have to feed forever and receive little benifit.
John you have not reported that the approved road is the final hurdle for West Byron’s development approval. Another 1000 dwellings and potentially 2000 local cars not day visitors on the local roads. When are you going to report the real facts behind the road approval. Markets moved from Butler St. Butler St reserve turned into a parking lot. West of Butler St rezoned to commercial and the town centre pulled West with high rise. The whole masterplan was a master stroke for developers pushed through a Council whom are supposed to be protecting Byron Bay.
This story is about the distinct chance everyone’s visions for the railway land will be knocked on the head if the NSW Government sells it off privately without public knowledge.