Maccas Farm Not Clear

Maccas Farm in Upper Main Arm has been a camping ground owned and operated by the McIlraith Brothers, David and Chris, for decades. It had many years as a very vibrant home base for rainbow travellers and Main Arm alternative residents, but probably not fully compliant. David died last year, and Chris seems to think the property has the potential for a community-title subdivision. An article in the Echo stated they wanted to clarify the DA, but it failed to do that. It seems the brothers got into a pickle with unsavoury private lending deals. The planner mentioned in the Echo is no longer working on the DA.

Either way, this ends another unique and colourful chapter of quirky life in Byron Shire. Be prepared for more debate about non-compliant properties housing a good proportion of our shire. It is an interesting topic and another thorny issue for the council to tackle. We will take a deeper dive into it in the next issue.