THE BYRON SHIRE ECHO Advertising & news enquiries: Mullumbimby 02 6684 1777 Byron Bay 02 6685 5222 Fax 02 6684 1719 editor@echo.net.au adcopy@echo.net.au http://www.echo.net.au VOLUME 20 #08 TUESDAY, JULY 12, 2005 22,300 copies every week $1 at newsagents only
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Indonesian Arts Festival to inspire Byron Bay Dragons, dinosaurs, jellyďŹ sh and giant eggs are some of the surprising and fascinating creatures that you might ďŹ nd at the Inspirasi Indonesian Arts Festival Finale at the Byron Peace Pole Park on Sunday 17 July. Preparations for the grand finale performance of the Inspirasi Festival are in full swing down at Byron Arts Factory. Indonesia’s foremost multimedia and international art celebrity Heri Dono is presenting a magical, mysterious performance of giant puppets, projections and installations which will tell a post-tsunami seaside tale from Indonesian mythology to delight children and adults of all ages. The performance will be a moving landscape of sounds and images narrated by the amazing voice of Melbourne vocalist Noemi Liba singing
the story joined by local musicians and gamelan orchestra. Festival highlights include the presentation of the Balinese Kecak Dance at the Buddha Bar this Saturday at 8pm to accompany the festival dinner. The Gold Coast Balinese community and local Indonesian and Australian communities have worked closely together over the past two months to create the ďŹ rst Kecak performance ever to be staged in Byron Shire. This group will also lead a beautiful Balinese procession with the stunning Barong and Rangda dancers in glittering costumes, gong music, Balinese umbrellas, ags and prayers starting from the Peace Pole at 11.30am on Sunday 17. A dedicated team of local and visiting artists have been
working non-stop to collaborate with Heri Dono in the creation of an array of beautiful art pieces for the performance art spectacular. Those who missed the Lismore Lantern Festival will get a chance to see some of its most spectacular pieces thanks to the festival’s Kathy McCormick who will be bringing the giant dragon and serpent to Byron Bay. Local sculptor John Lewis is creating jellyďŹ sh art pieces from recycled materials while internationally recognised installation artist Ginny Jones has invited Indonesian artist Firman Djamil from Sulawesi to collaborate on the production of giant seed pods to install at the festival site. Another highlight of the festival will be the public forum called ‘Neighbours: Who Needs Them’ to be
Celebrating Aboriginal culture in Byron
held at the Buddha Bar on Saturday at 2pm. ‘In light of recent events in Bali, the Schapelle Corby hysteria, the Bali bombing and other major issues that have rocked our neighbourhood, the Australia Indonesia Arts Alliance has chosen to speak out against the media manipulation of public opinion that has occurred in recent days,’ said a spokesperson for the Alliance. ‘The Inspirasi Festival itself celebrates 50,000 years of peace as the true reality of the Australia Indonesia relationship. Come along and have your say and hear what others feel about this most important relationship.’ Free performances of music, dance and arts of all kinds will run from noon until late this Saturday at the Buddha Bar and on Sunday at the Byron Peace Pole from 12-5pm. For more information contact the Indonesia Art Alliance on 6685 7789 or go to www.aiaa.org.au for the festival program.
Visiting Indonesian artist Heri Dono is pictured above putting the finishing touches to the Java god Semar and Ginni Jones finishes a ceramic egg in preparation for this weekend’s Inspirasi Indonesian Arts Festival.
Development plans in train for rail land
Sean Kay and daughter Tarnee, pictured above, enjoying the festivities during Wednesday’s Aboriginal Awareness Day in Byron Bay. Arakwal Elders and members of the local community marched through the town to demonstrate solidarity and to celebrate Aboriginal culture. Photo Jeff ‘Dot’ Dawson
INTERIOR
State Rail, which owns some prime pieces of real estate in Byron Bay and Mullumbimby, is hoping to increase their value by lobbying Council for favourable rezoning decisions. Under the current zoning, the land cannot be used for commercial or residential uses, however Railcorp has petitioned Council to consider changing the zoning. A zoning to allow commercial uses is being sought for a 6,000 square metre (1.5 acres) lot near the Byron Bay Railway Station and residential development has
been mentioned for land near the Byron Bay Market. Council have told Railcorp that any decision to rezone railway land is ‘premature’ according to General Manager Pamela Westing. While she says the change of use will not affect the running of the railway, a change of use for some of the parcels could impact on the development of the Byron Bay bypass. Of greater concern is the pressure the development could put on the centre of town. Ms Westing said that Council wants to complete their retail strategy and traf-
ďŹ c studies before any decision is made. However a proposal to rezone land in Mullumbimby adjacent to the rail line to make way for a new supermarket has already been thrown open for community comment. Pamela Westing, said ten submissions were received opposing the rezoning in Station Street, over 60 supported the move and a 900 signatures petition was submitted in favour of the plan. Council will be considering the proposal at their first meeting in August.
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