THE BYRON SHIRE ECHO
>˜}>Â?ÂœĂœĂŠ SEE ,Ă•}LÞÊ PAGE 6ˆÂ?Â?>}iĂŠ
Â…>Â“ÂŤĂƒ
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 #14 TUESDAY, AUGUST 23, 2005 22,300 copies every week $1 at newsagents only
L E S S
I S
M O R E ,
M O R E
O R
L E S S
Ocean outlets the answer to ooding in shire’s north? Lesley Patterson Man made outlets to the ocean to allow the escape of flood waters will prevent future ooding in the north of the shire. This was the message delivered at two recent public meetings at Ocean Shores and South Golden Beach organised by the Ocean Shores Community Association. Spokesperson for the association Jim Mangleson told The Echo, the meetings were called’ for the people to be aware of the true history of the area. We’ve also put a website together which is a collection of facts that proves conclusively, we believe, that the problem with ooding at
South Golden Beach and Ocean Shores is all man made’. ‘There was no flooding prior to the closing of the outlets which were closed progressively from 1958 onwards. Flooding has been exacerbated by the levee bank which was built around South Golden Beach by Council, over one metre higher than the engineers warned them to build it,’ claims Mr Mangleson. ‘The developers of Ocean Shores closed the ocean outlet alongside Fern Beach, [the provision of] which was a condition of the development consent, because people objected to the cutting of
the sand mining road running up to Wooyung. Council ordered the developers to close the flood outlet and accepted the liability for any future ooding in 1976,’ said Mr Mangleson. Council has been studying the issue of ooding in the north of the shire and possible methods of reducing the impact for many years through its Marshall’s Creek Floodplain Committee which produced a Floodplain Management Plan (FMP). Brett Lee, Council’s Director of Asset Management Services, says the FMP found that major infrastructure works such as ood out-
Brunswick ying high
lets, dredging and changing the training walls in the Brunswick River would have little benefit. However, he added that a review of the plan has been triggered by the major weather event on June 30. ‘We don’t yet know how serious an event it was. Some people in the community have completely opposing views on it,’ he said, adding that a draft report on the rainfall ďŹ gures and ood levels, called the Flood Level Study, will be delivered in around a week’s time. ‘When we receive the Flood Level Study we will take that information in that continued on page 2
The hills were alive with the sound of music
- / ĂŠ-/" ĂŠ" 9
әÊÂ?ÂœÂ˜ĂƒÂœÂ˜ĂŠĂƒĂŒĂŠLĂžĂ€ÂœÂ˜ĂŠL>Ăž
Kaye Hall The Bangalow Music Festival concluded on Sunday afternoon in the beautiful St Kevin’s Catholic Church to the strains of the Bangalow Festival Chamber Orchestra and the magniďŹ cent voices of tenor Gregory Massingham, soprano Margaret Schindler and mezzo soprano Georgia Hawes performing Haydn’s The Seven Last Words of Christ. The ďŹ fth Bangalow Music Festival commenced with a locals night on Thursday attracting an audience from all over to enjoy an impressive and vibrant showcase of internationally acclaimed music performed by some of the best Australia has to offer, along with a number of international artists. One was English concert pianist Mark Gasser who called the event a world-class
Bike rider Samantha Oliver, pictured above, was something of a crossover entrant in the Brunswick Kites and Bikes Festival, with her flying gear strapped to her back. She took out the best decorated bike in the 10-15 year old category and thanks to the light south easterly winds managed to remain earthbound. Families descended on Brunswick Heads in droves for a fresh air filled Sunday. Photo Jeff ‘High as a Kite ’ Dawson
Mallams plan to be reviewed
English concert pianist Mark Gasser, pictured above, who after performing on four continents in many of the world’s leading concert venues, including Carnegie Hall, was happy to play in Bangalow’s A&I Hall for the Bangalow Music Festival last weekend. Photo Jeff ‘Highly Strung’ Dawson
festival and said it was incredible that it is held in a village the size of Bangalow. It is a pleasure for him to be
playing alongside such won- nection with the audience, derful artists. He said he strolling in the village, chatloves the intimacy of it, the ting with people and practissupportive and friendly concontinued on page 4
After refusing a proposal for a new supermarket site in Station Street, Mullumbimby two weeks ago, Council reversed its decision last Thursday and has now asked for more detailed information on the plan. Crs Bob Tardif and Ross Tucker failed in their bid to rezone the State Rail owned land to allow a supermarket and ancillary shops. Instead the majority of councillors supported a compromise position by Crs Barham and John Lazarus to seek more information of the
traffic issues, provision of parking, impacts on surrounding houses due to ooding and noise on adjacent residences. Council has also asked that other possible supermarket sites be looked at within the existing town centre. ‘It is obvious that the supermarket doesn’t have the full support of the community so these other issues need to be addressed,’ said Cr Barham on Monday. When contacted by The Echo John Waterhouse from Mallams declined to comment.
/Ê 1 9t -- 6 Ê7 / ,Ê , JÊ-‡ * ÊÊÓ™Ê " -" Ê-/Ê 9," Ê 9