Mayor's West Byron Development motion defeated by council

AN URGENCY motion calling on the State Government to defer rezoning of the 108ha West Byron Development was defeated at yesterday's Byron Shire Council meeting.

Councillors instead voted that the motion, put by Mayor Simon Richardson, was not urgent and would not be considered.

The motion would have asked the government to defer any decision regarding the land re-zoning until a comprehensive traffic study was undertaken, a site-specific acid sulphate soils study has been produced, the Byron Coast Comprehensive Koala Plan of Management is completed, as is both the Local Growth Management Strategy and a baseline assessment of the Belongil creek/estuary.

Cr Richardson said he was particularly disappointed.

"This is clearly a contentious development which warrants discussion," he said. "We know the decision from the department is imminent, and with a new planning minister, Pru Goward, taking over, we need fresh eyes over it."