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 #44 TUESDAY, MARCH 28, 2006 22,300 copies every week $1 at newsagents only
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RTA ignores concerns of Yelgun residents Alex McAuley The RTA has washed its hands of responsibility for unacceptable noise levels say residents affected by the upgrade of the PaciďŹ c Highway between Brunswick Heads and Yelgun. Inconsistent noise impact studies have allowed the Roads and TrafďŹ c Authority to downplay the noise problem affecting some residents adjacent to the new upgrade. Paul and Jill Rogers bought a property at Yelgun in 1999 thinking that they were moving to their dream home only ďŹ nd that it has turned into a complete nightmare. The Rogers were aware of the preferred route for the highway which the RTA put on display in 1997, however the couple say that what the RTA did not exhibit at that time was a plan for a truck
stop, which is being constructed about 500 metres from their property. ‘When we got our ďŹ rst inkling that there may be a truck stop going in, we asked RTA representatives about it,’ said Jill. ‘They denied it almost until the ďŹ rst sod of earth was turned.’ Mr and Mrs Rogers are very concerned about the impact this truck stop will have on their property, particularly the constant compression braking as trucks pull into the rest area and the glare from the overnight lighting. To make matters worse, the original landscaping that would have afforded them some protection has been so altered by the earthworks that their property is now fully exposed to the rest area. ‘The RTA has referred speciďŹ cally to our residence
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Byron says goodbye to Ben King
in relation to the truck stop several times; their website states that the Yelgun truck stop “is located in naturally shielded area where the surrounding terrain provides good natural sound bufferingâ€?,’ said Jill. ‘We are very disturbed to note that the naturally shielded area has now been removed and used as ďŹ ll for the major construction activity on the north side of the existing highway.’ A spokesperson for the RTA said, ‘The rest area is being built as part of the recommendations of the PaciďŹ c Highway Safety Review 2004 and as contained in the RTA’s Truck Rest Area Strategy. The site was identiďŹ ed as having the least noise impacts in line with the recommendations made by the continued on page 2
Jump for joy
Surfers, family and friends bade farewell in style on Tuesday last week to much-loved local Ben King, who died suddenly of a heart attack at 42. Over 600 surfers participated in a farewell paddle-out at Main Beach and later that day around 1500 people attended a service at St Finbarr’s Catholic Church. Surfing Australia acknowledged the outstanding role Ben had played in laying a solid foundation over the years for the Byron Bay Boardriders and surfing in this region. ‘Ben was a special person in that he was prepared to personally work hard for the goals he helped set for the club and made the time available and had the interest, to support and mentor those around him to develop a team,’ said Surfing Australia in its press release. ‘Ben’s generosity in opening his house to many members of the surfing family during their travels brought him many friends and acquaintances. Surfing will miss the future contributions that Ben would have made, but his legacy is left for us all to nurture.’ Q Photo tribute, page 15, more photos photocompli.echo.net.au/echoextra
Compromise likely on holiday letting
Luke Stickley on the return leg of a short flight at the Wreck on Sunday. Still reeling from the shock of Ben King’s untimely death, the Byron Surfing community revelled in near perfect waves for the entire weekend – thanks Ben. More pics of the big swell photocompli.echo.net.au/echoextra Jeff ‘Air Head’ Dawson
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Lesley Patterson A plan to prohibit holiday letting in most residential areas of Byron Bay and Suffolk Park, but exempt existing holiday letting strongholds such as Watego’s Beach, received wide support at a meeting of business, community and tourism representatives last week. ‘The meeting was able to air concerns, discuss the legal and planning issues and then move forward with options that will assist council in reaching a position that will then be exhibited for community comment,’ said Cr Jan Barham. ‘There were a number of options presented at the meeting, but only one got
majority support,’ said Chris Hanley, who represents Byron Bay’s major real estate agents, at the holiday letting forum. The precinct plan, which Mr Hanley has described as a ‘work in progress’ permits holiday letting in a range of areas including Watego‘s, Shirley Street, Belongil, Alcorn Street and Lawson Street, but supports the prohibition of holiday letting in most other residential areas. Mr Hanley says the precinct plan received the support of some community groups as it only included ‘the traditional coastal precincts which have been holiday let for 20-30 years and
included none of the mainly residential areas’. Glen Lawrence from residents lobby group BRACE, says his organisation supports the precinct plan ‘as long as the community in each precinct have a chance to have an input and holiday lets are subject to a development application or similar Council approval’. Cr Barham is supporting the concept of a precinct plan but says the detail of the areas is subject to discussion by Councill. Landlords group HLO (Holiday Letting Organisation) did not support the precinct plan but championed
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