In 2010 Tallowood Ridge Developers took Byron Shire Council to the Land and Environment Court of New South Wales in order to attempt to overturn their denied DA application for Stage 1 of the Tallowood development. There had been a huge amount of public opposition to the initial plans, especially due to the developer lacking a master plan. The community was very concerned about the plan to build a road along the top of the ridge with none of the old growth trees protected.
The court hearing resulted in the protection of the ridge from a road build on it and the court stated that 3 public reserve Lots would be created (Lots 31, 32 and 33). Some members of the community believe these lots already have been sold and are now being built on be new owners.
Read the full court transcript HERE
What is the benefit of a court hearing if it is not enforced by Council? It seems that the Council should not have approved these additional lots in the first place.
We hope to get a full explanation from Council on how this has occurred.
UPDATE November 28: After further investigation I have managed to find the drawing mentioned in the court case. It can be viewed here LM070237-SP3. The 3 lots, 31, 32, and 33 are clearly shown on this map and are not ‘residential lots’ but rather ‘reserve lots’. There has been some confusion around the wording and numbering of lots in the various versions of the plans to lead some community members to conclude that the Lots were not actually reserved when in fact they have been as part of Stage 1. Stage 2 also has some lots numbered 31, 32 and 33 which is where the confusion began.