In less than 4 weeks of existence, Mullumbimby Community Action Group (MCAG) has achieved a major objective – to secure the old Telstra depot for community. Byron Shire Council’s successful bid for the site at an auction on Friday means that this strategic position at the entrance to Mullumbimby will not become an extension of the proposed Woolworth’s development next door.
MCAG was formed on Australia Day: 26 January 2008 in response to a report that Woolworths was coming to Mullumbimby, announced on the 1st January. Concerned residents have so far had three public meetings from which emerged the main goal: to stop Woolworths coming to Mullumbimby. Securing the Telstra site for community was another goal, and a “Telstra Site Acquisition Group” was formed, meeting weekly.
An Urgency Motion was organized by ex-Councillor Duncan Day, and Deborah Lilly addressed a meeting of Byron Shire Council during public access on 14 February. Councillors voted 4 -3 in favour of investigating acquiring the site, and one week later … they bought it! This was a miraculously fast move by Council, and is a brilliant demonstration of the influence of collective community spirit.
Winning this site for community and stopping the Woolworths encroachment at the entrance to our town is a terrific outcome for MCAG! Our next step is to raise public awareness of the enormous benefit to our town when we “buy local”. Circulating our dollars locally keeps our unique community creatively employed in jobs that we choose.
Keeping Woolworths out of town could enable Mullumbimby to become a model of sustainability… or just another link in the urban sprawl from Tweed Coast to Ballina.
Its our town and we have the collective spirit to chose our future…. use it or lose it!
One miracle in less than a month is a great start!
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