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 #43 TUESDAY, MARCH 21, 2006 22,300 copies every week $1 at newsagents only
>ÀÌÞÊ >ÞLiÀÀÞ½Ã
*>À> Þ « VÃ -iiÊ-« ÀÌ
T O O
M U C H
P L A N N I N G
I S
N E V E R
E N O U G H
Water carriers up in arms over Rous Water price hikes Alex McAuley The trebling of water costs and changes to water cartage arrangements have left local water carriers up in arms. Last year, Rous Water took over from local councils as the regulating authority on all water filling stations after problems experienced during the last extended dry period. Wayne Franklin, Operational Services Manager at Rous Water, explained that there were numerous complaints during the last drought about water carriers’ practices and what the water was being used for. ‘People were concerned that truck loads of water were being put into swimming
pools and bought for businesses when there was such an extreme water shortage, and that it would impact on those who really needed it,’ said Mr Franklin. ‘There was a problem with water carriers filling up anywhere they felt like, often without paying for the water. They were also filling up outside residences at all hours of the day and night, leaving a muddy mess behind them. ‘We [Rous Water] consulted with all the local councils and it was agreed that we would assume authority over all water filling stations in order to better regulate water usage.’ The cartage companies,
however, are surprised by the extent of the changes, which they claim will have a huge impact on those relying on tank water should we experience another long dry spell. A spokesperson for one company explained that the number of designated filling stations has been cut back dramatically. ‘Previously, there were seven filling stations in Byron Shire, however now there are only two: one at Tyagarah and one in Bangalow,’ she said. ‘That represents a considerable increase in our fuel costs when we have to travel longer distances to fill up. Those increases will have to be passed on to the customer.’
Tributes flow in for King of surf
An outbreak of peace
Furthermore, with the revoking of the standpipe licences, the cartage companies will be using a new swipe card system which means that every time they fill up, they will be automatically charged on their credit card. In a long dry spell, this could represent up to six or seven transactions in a day, which will in turn mean increased bank charges. The most significant change, however, is the per kilolitre cost increase that came into play on March 1. It was anticipated that the price would rise from $1.10 per kL to $1.89 per kL, however it has in fact increased to $3.10 per kL, a whopping 182% rise. ‘We’ll have to pass on all those cost increases,’ said the spokesperson. ‘It will mean that the cost of filling an average tank will go from about $90 to as much as $150 or $160 depending on
Dean Jefferys, who spent months in Iraq prior to the Axis of Righteous’ ‘Liberation’ three years ago, joined 150 others in a Peace Vigil in Byron Bay on Saturday to mark the third anniversary of the Iraq Invasion and to send their congratulations to President Bush. Jeff continued on page 2 ‘Oil’s Well That Ends Well’ Dawson
Regional strategy has vision but no teeth
Tributes have been flowing in for respected surfer and Byron Bay resident Ben King who died unexpectedly on Sunday March 12. One measure of the man’s popularity is the overwhelming quantity of flowers sent to his home which have been fashioned into over 30 wreaths by friends. Around 300 bags of flower petals will be scattered over the ocean in remembrance of this special man during the paddle out from Main Beach this morning (Tuesday) by friends and fellow surfers. The paddle out will be followed by the funeral at St Finbarrs Church in Byron Bay at 2pm. Ben King’s son Kurtis (second from the right) with fellow Byron Bay Boardriders Club members Ed Riordan, Bryce Cameron and Paul Sullivan, took out time last week to visit Cosy Corner, which held a special place in Ben’s heart as his favourite surfing spot. Photo Jeff Dawson
Lesley Patterson Created to manage the Far North Coast (FNC) Region’s future development patterns, the Draft FNC Regional Strategy has been widely criticised as a toothless tiger since its launch last week. Ballina MP Don Page said the Strategy lacks substance and detail and failed to address the region’s infrastr ucture needs, environmental groups have said it leaves the doors wide open to continued ad hoc sprawling development of the region and a group of prominent local residents
have said the document needs more work. The Strategy, which was produced by the NSW Department of Planning, predicts over 60,000 people will be moving to the Far North Coast over the next 25 years representing a 26% population increase. If current trends were to continue, around 75% of the region’s future additional housing would be located east of the Pacific Highway, says the strategy, leading to fur ther pressure on infrastructure and sensitive environments. The Strategy aims to counter this by
concentrating most of the growth into existing urban areas and restricting new urban development areas. In a letter to NSW Planning Minister, Frank Sartor, a group of local citizens representing the Northern Rivers Regional Development Board, the Social Development Council, the Northern Rivers Urban Design Awards and the Small Business Advisory Council has called for major changes to the plan. ‘You have set out the vision, however the lack of detail and implementation continued on page 2