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 #19 TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2005 22,300 copies every week $1 at newsagents only
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RTA maintains secretiveness over route Lesley Patterson
The RTA is considering around ten possible route options for the Ewingsdale to Tintenbar section of the Pacific Highway upgrade. The exact location of the routes is being kept secret from the general public and the RTA has demanded that members of the Community Liaison Group (CLG) abide by a confidentiality agreement, whereby they liaise with the community without disclosing the location of the routes. One community member of the CLG told The Echo that the disclosure of the various route options was in the public interest, but declined to go on the record because of a fear of being removed from the CLG by the RTA.
Gag order Another CLG member who is concerned about the gag order is Jack Harper, a community representative from Coopers Shoot. Mr Harper was willing to give The Echo the following information which he believes does not contravene the RTA’s confidentiality agreement as it does not reveal the exact line of the routes. ‘We saw for a second time last Monday a map containing around ten route options which cover most of the total study area (the original and the extended study area) from east to west. Some of the routes go through a tunnel at St Helena, some come off at Sandy Flat a few kilometres south of Ross Lane
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Eagle Farm takes wing with open day
and some come off at Ross Lane,’ explained Mr Harper. ‘The reason the RTA has given for not releasing the location of the route options is to avoid anxiety among residents until the short list has been produced,’ he said.
RTA unswayed However, Mr Harper conducted a survey among around 100 Coopers Shoot residents to ask them if they felt they had a right to be informed of where the route options run and if they wanted to know where they run. The answer was overwhelmingly ‘yes’, but Mr Harper says this information failed to sway the RTA from insisting on confidentiality. October 24 is the next meeting of the CLG where Mr Harper says members will be given more information on evaulation criteria to develop a short list of three preferred route options. The disclosure of the short list is not planned until mid November according to Mr Harper.
Dieter Horstman examines the WWII Orion PT22 owned by Martin Davies, an example of the type of aircraft which will be part of next Sunday’s vintage fly-in at Tyagarah airstrip. Photo Jeff ‘Sop With Camel’ Dawson
Vintage aircraft will be flying in to Eagle Farm at Tyagarah for its first Open Day on Sunday October 2 from 9am to 2pm. Eagle Farm owner Dieter Horstmann is inviting the public to visit the 175 acre property and learn about his plans for ‘future farming’. He is also hosting a visit from 12 vintage aircraft on their first stopover in a fundraising journey around the outback for the Flying Doctor Service. ‘It is a rare opportunity to see these magnificent old fly-
ing machines,’ said Dieter Horstmann, himself an aviation enthusiast. ‘We believe a lot of people will be keen to see these planes close up and decided to include tours of Eagle Farm to make it a great day out for all the family.’ Eagle Farm adjoins the Tyagarah airstrip and operates the ‘Blue Hangar’ as an aero club. The Blue Hangar’s fleet of antique planes and modern gliders will also be on display. Breakfast for the visiting pilots will be at 10am and all visitors will be welcome to a sausage sizzle
hosted by Bangalow Lions Club. Mr Horstmann has been developing Eagle Farm for 18 years and has constructed a race track, a golf course, the Stonehenge open air theatre, several interesting buildings and installations of rock art. ‘I have been inspired by the magic and power of the huge basalt crystals on the property and have used them to express my artistry in both building and sculpture,’ he said. On show at Eagle Farm’s Open Day will be Wilma the
Alcohol reduction campaign for NYE In an attempt to reduce the amount of alcohol on the streets of Byron Bay this New Year’s Eve local bottle shops are looking at a proposal whereby alcohol will be sold in sealed packages only for consumption outside the alcohol free zone or in homes and restaurants. ‘The alcohol prohibition on the streets will ensure
safety for young and old who want to join together for a safe and peaceful celebration of the new year,’ said Mayor Jan Barham. ‘The operation of the bottle shops in town will not be hindered, they will open till 9pm and the operators are happy to work with the NYE Safety Committee to ensure a safe event. The co-opera-
tion of the Byron Bay liquor outlets is appreciated and I am confident that we share the objective of keeping the town safe without any negative impact to the businesses. I look forward to further opportunities to work in partnership,’ said Cr Barham. Cr Barham says the police will have the power to confiscate alcohol from anyone
found drinking in the streets and Council is working to avoid last year’s experience where large amounts of alcohol were brought into the town in cars. She says Council is investigating limiting car access to the town to residents and visitors staying in the town through the issuing of an access sticker. continued on page 2
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Whale, star of the recent Byron Peace Carnival parade. A huge 10 metre construction, Wilma also doubles up to offer audio visual displays. Wilma has been a work of love for Mr Horstmann, spending weeks building and painting her to be the Carnival’s mascot. To get to Eagle Farm, take the Grays Lane turnoff from the Pacific Highway and then the first driveway on the left. For more information, phone Dieter Horstmann on 6684 7563 or 0418 666 625.
Business as usual Monday is Labour Day, a public holiday in recognition of how hard the labouring classes have had to fight to win the slightest concession in the workplace. To celebrate John Howard’s imminent repeal of all that nanny state nonsense Echo phones and offices will be open as normal on Monday.