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 #20 TUESDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2005 22,300 copies every week $1 at newsagents only
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Green thoughts, p14
Sartor gets involved in Blessing the bunnies Byron planning issues Lesley Patterson
of accommodation units proposed in the new DA. Mayor Jan Barham also wouldn’t be drawn on the size of the revised proposal saying that Council only received a copy of the new DA last week, but revealed that it contained a mixed tourism development with free-standing apartments and a motel. ‘We are happy to sit down and see where we might find agreement and inform the Minister whether it is a DA which is suitable for public exhibition. The process is to assess what has been submitted and see if we can reach agreement,’ Cr Barham said. Earlier on Thursday community representatives Raylee Delaney and Andrew Murray briefed Mr Sartor on residents’ concerns about the land and past proposals. ‘The major issue appears to be the environmental sensitivity of the site,’ said Mr Sartor. ister for Planning, Mr Sartor Some time ago Becton (pictured above) said he has met with 14 or 15 developers in Sydney during the past two weeks, one of which was Becton Corporation. Widespread police raids of ‘Becton lodged a new DA licensed premises in Byron in July [with the Department Bay and Mullumbimby last of Planning]. We declined to Friday and Saturday night deal with it and have agreed failed to net a huge drugs to a process with Byron haul with only two people Shire, Becton and my depart- charged with possession. ment,’ Mr Sartor told The In a joint operation Echo on Thursday. ‘My between Byron Bay and department will be conven- Tweed Heads Local Area ing meetings over the next Commands, sniffer dogs, three weeks between the plain clothes police and unidepartment, Becton and formed officers searched Byron Shire Council.’ patrons of hotels and clubs ‘The new proposal is quite along the far north coast close to what Council including Kingscliff, Murwilwanted,’ commented Mr lumbah and Byron Shire Sartor who said he couldn’t towns. Mullumbimby’s recall a figure for the number Chincogan Tavern and ComBecton and holiday letting were both on the agenda when State Minister for Planning, Frank Sartor, made a lightning visit to Byron Shire last week. Mr Sartor met with Mayor Jan Barham, Byron Shire Council General Manager Pamela Westing and other Council staff over a range of issues including progress with the Becton development. Following his recent appointment as NSW Min-
Corporation appealed to the Land and Environment Court to determine whether Byron Shire Council or the Minister for Planning will have the right to approve or refuse any Becton DA. Mr Sartor said the court has still to rule on the matter so it is unknown who will be the consent authority. A scheduled meeting between Mr Sartor and members of the Holiday Letting Organisation (HLO) was cancelled due to his tight schedule, however the Min- Holier-than-thou bunnies Frost and Storm lined up for some spiritual attention at Bangalow All Saints’ ister did discuss holiday let- annual Blessing of the Animals ceremony on Sunday. Bonnie Harvey said Frost definitely felt lighter ting in Byron Bay with Cr for the experience, Imogen Hughes wasn’t convinced. Photo Jeff ‘Thumper’ Dawson Barham and council staff. ‘He wanted to hear where we are going with it,’ said Jan Barham. ‘He has asked for an overview on residential Byron Shire lost a ‘very ing recognition for tradiand tourism issues in the strong Bundjalung lady’ last tional Aboriginal land in Shire, what the potential for Monday when Arakwal elder Byron Bay through the first Indigenous Land Use Agreetourist accommodation there Lorna Kelly died aged 81. Lorna Kelly (pictured ment in Australia. is and how much has been Aunty Lorna’s daughter taken up. We will also indi- right) was born in Mullumcate what the potential is for bimby and grew up in Iron- Annette described her as ‘a tourism accommodation bark Avenue, Byron Bay. She very energetic, very strong continued on page 2 played a pivotal role in achiev- Bundjalung lady who had to raise her brothers and sisters as well as her own children’. ‘She always wanted to fight for her land and come mercial Hotel were raided added that four cautions home and finish her life here. before 8pm with police mov- were issued for possession of As time went on she wanted ‘I have spent 11 years in ing on to Byron Bay where prohibited drugs in Byron her family be recognised as meetings and developing a The Beach Hotel, Hotel Bay. the traditional owners of her relationship with the ArakByron Shire Mayor Jan land so that she could pass it wal to achieve the outcomes Great Northern and La La Land were just three of the Barham said she was sur- on to future generations,’ of the ILUA (Indigenous prised by the use of sniffer Annette told The Echo last Land Use Agreement) which premises visited. Despite the scale of the dogs in Byron Shire. week. we are very close to finalising ‘After the incident with operation only one person in Lorna Kelly left Byron and Lorna has been an absothe two Mullumbimby hotels Rusty Harris it is a very pro- Bay in the 1950s to live at lute inspiration,’ said Mayor swooped on by police was vocative action by the police Cabbage Tree Island with Jan Barham about Aunty detected with a ‘small and one would wonder her husband Harold and the Lorna. amount of cannabis’ and whether they are really rest of her family.The mother ‘Her commitment to the issued with a field court lookng at priorities around of eight children, she is sur- local community and conserattendance notice. Only one community safety in relation vived by five of them – Lor- vation of the area has been an other man was arrested in to drug and alcohol issues’. raine, Stanley, Brian, Sharon education in understanding The Echo’s Hans Lovejoy and Annette and her sisters the relationship that AborByron Bay and charged with possession. Inspector Carey arrived at the Chincogan Dulcie Nicholls and Linda igines have with country and from Tweed Heads LAC continued on page 2 Vidler. continued on page 2
Shire mourns Aunty Lorna
Drug fishing trip nets a few minnows