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 21 #05 TUESDAY, JULY 11, 2006 22,300 copies every week $1 at newsagents only
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Celebrating with the Arakwal
State govt exhibits Mallams DA Lesley Patterson A development proposal for a supermarket and bottle shop in Station Street, Mullumbimby, is being exhibited by the NSW Department of Planning until July 21. Last August Byron Shire Council refused an application by Chris Mallam and Ray Musgrave to build a small shopping centre including a supermarket and shops in Station Street. The application centres on land alongside the railway line which is owned by State Rail. Under state planning legislation, referred to as SEPP8, devel-
Hans Lovejoy ‘Respect the Past – Believe in the Future’ was the message for this year’s NAIDOC (National Aboriginal and Islander Day of Celebration) celebrations, held in Byron Bay last Thursday. The Arakwal People, the Department of Environment (DEC) Parks and Wildlife Division and Cape Byron Trust once again staged the event, which included traditional dances, music, face painting and workshops. ‘It’s fun, it’s free and it’s family,’ said organiser Delta Kay. ‘I encourage the whole community to get involved. It would be great to see the local businesses support us with flags in their windows.’ The day began with police escorting a walk from Railway Park up Jonson Street to the Peace Pole Park, next to the Surf Club. Before a BBQ and bush tucker food, there were short speeches and traditional dancing. Each dance represented a story and gave significant instruction about hunting and connecting with the spirits. Examples ranged from
Unjalung and Wai Marie Kennedy epitomised the spirit of celebration at NAIDOC day last Thursday. Photo Jeff ‘WASUPDOC’ Dawson
how to make sandfly repellent from smoked gum leaves to the story of a young Aboriginal boy unable to speak who finally communicated to his father that he has seen a beautiful butterfly. ‘When you hear it, see it and feel it, it keeps our culture alive,’ said one of the performers. Musician Johnny Huckle entertained while the crowd ate, danced and participated in the afternoon’s activities. Delta Kay thanked National Parks, Byron Shire Council, Cape Byron Trust, Sisters for Reconciliation and One Accord for their involvement in the day. In an Australian first, both the Arakwal People and the Department of Lands jointly manage the Arakwal National Park. Since the signing in 2001, it has resulted in the award of the prestigious Fred M. Packard International Parks Merit Award at the fifth World Parks Congress of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature in Durban in 2003.
Yvonne Stewart, Arakwal member and Cape Byron Trust Chairperson, said that events such as NAIDOC week play an important part in the reconciliation process as they foster an appreciation and understanding of local Aboriginal culture and heritage. One of the issues facing Arakwal Elders is the lack of funds to construct housing for them on land reclaimed in Byron Bay. ‘Just under two acres near St Finbarr’s School was handed back in 2001 through the Indigenous Land Use Agreement made under the Native Title Act,’ Ms Stewart told The Echo. ‘We thought we had the government’s support but were disappointed that provisions and resources didn’t follow through for the houses being built. ‘It is a great disappointment to the Elders and it’s unfortunate that in 2006 we are still waiting to live back on our land.’
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Changes to public access
Council watchers will need to skip their second cup of tea over breakfast in future to address Council meetings. From August 8, Byron Shire Council’s ordinary and planning meetings will start at 10.30am, preceded by addresses from the public at 9am before the official start of the meeting. Council has also recently introduced an on-line tracking ser vice for development applications, construction certificates and complying development certificates. Byron Shire says it is one of the first regional councils to have the system up and running. ‘The new system gives applicants quick access to reliable information about the progress of their application 24 hours a day, seven days a week,’ said Council’s General Manager, Pamela Westing. The system can be used to view applications currently being advertised and those that have recently continued on page 2 been determined.
opers can apply to the Department of Planning for development approval on government owned land if a council refuses planning permission. The current development proposal differs from the application refused by Council in that the number of ancillary shops has been reduced to one. Other changes include modifications to the site layout to move the car park entry to the south of Tincogan Street and push the goods receiving area towards the back of the site, away from residences. Concerns about the
increase in traffic volumes in surrounding streets, particularly Tincogan Street, were largely responsible for Council’s rejection of the original DA. A proposal to build an interim roundabout at the junction of Station and Burringbar Streets by the developer in lieu of development contributions has been made in the application to alleviate traffic congestion. A traffic report produced by the applicant’s consultant states that traffic volumes will increase in Station Street by 1264 vehicles per day (vpd) and 356 vpd in continued on page 2
Blessing the Buddha
Tibetan/ Byron Gyuto monks were very enthusiastic about blessing the Crystal Castle’s 14 tonne, four metre high Buddha. A spokesman for the monks said there was a thousand year linkage between Borobudur in Java where this Buddha came from and the ancient Tibetan lineages. Photo Jeff ‘Gimme Five’ Dawson