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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 #15 TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2006 22,300 copies every week $1 at newsagents only
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Keep Main Arm small, say residents Michael McDonald Main Arm residents turned up in numbers at Byron Shire Council’s chambers last Thursday night to voice their opposition to development plans for their village. The chambers was full to overflowing as residents put their case via Shona Murray of the Main Arm Residents Association (MARA) and asked questions of planners and councillors. As part of its Byron Rural Settlement Strategy (BRSS) Council is exhibiting plans by two landowners, ReGenesis and Davis/McIver, for village use and residential sites, some of the land requiring rezoning for village. ReGenesis holds 55 hectares in total and Davis/McIver about 92ha. The expected maximum yield in total is 23 additional dwellings on com-
munity title and 22 dwellings in the village zone, plus a ‘community/commercial precinct’ on ReGenesis village land, resulting roughly in a 320% increase on Main Arm village’s current 14 dwellings. Mayor Jan Barham introduced the agenda and handed over to Ms Murray, who put the residents’ case in a slide show. MARA felt the proposals do not meet BRRS objectives and was opposed to any commercial shopping centre in the village zone. ‘We would accept some development but the growth should only be on lands already zoned village,’ Ms Murray said. Other issues for residents also included water pollution risks, air pollution, and flooding and erosion. ‘The development must
Main Arm residents look on as Lois Cook of the Ngybul addresses Councillors on cultural issues. Photo Lou Beaumont
rely solely on rainwater tanks,’ Ms Murray said. ‘There will be insufficient water supply in dry times. ‘We have a pristine envi-
ronment with water of incredible quality. Siltation from one house [recently built] is already affecting it. ‘There are also bushfire
mitigation issues. How do improved. [The developyou maintain enough water ment] would mean 432 more car movements per day.’ to fight fires?’ On the question of the extra ‘The community would continued on page 2 rather not have the roads
More peace than you can poke a stick at on Byron calendar
Earthdance revellers converged at the Peace Pole site on Main Beach to contemplate, and dance for, world peace in the lead-up to International Day of Peace this coming Thursday. Earthdance was the first Council approved dance party held at the Byron Entertainment Centre on Saturday night and the Aunty Program is the beneficiary of profits from the event. Photo Lou Beaumont
Byron Shire steadies itself for an outbreak of peace in two events scheduled for this Thursday and Saturday. This Thursday is International Day of Peace (www. internationaldayofpeace.org) with 2,500 events expected to occur in 181 countries. At the Peace Pole in Byron Bay the Peace Flag dropping from the sky will be a focus for those who gather at the pole for the one minute of silence at midday. Starting at dawn, flute, didj, harp, spoken word, choirs, contempory dance, classical Indian singing, chants and prayers will continue throughout the day. A wishing tree will be filled with prayer leaves as those who come add to the branches. Breakfast is available for the early risers. A Peace Concert late after-
noon concludes the day but people are welcome to stay at the pole to complete the 24 hour vigil. For more information or to offer assistance call Margeaux on 0401 249 732 or 6685 8382. On Saturday Greens MP Ian Cohen will lead the Byron Peace Flotilla in a Paddle Out for Peace at 10 am from the Peace Pole. Local clubs, including nippers,short boarders, bodyboarders, longboarders, kayakers and the odd rubber ducky are invited to participate to send the wave of peace out from Byron Bay. The peaceriders will assemble at the Peace Pole at 9.30am. They are expected to receive a ceremonial sendoff from local elders, Aboriginal dancers, peace activists and be serenaded to the water’s edge by the Byron
Peace Orchestra. All shire residents are invited to cheer the peace messengers and all musos are invited to be a part of the Peace Orchestra. Then, weather permitting, Peace Man will descend from the skies, flying on the tail of the Peace Dove. There will be peace kites, peace dances and peace councils, with peace activist Gareth Smith launching a campaign to declare Byron Shire as a Council for Peace. And local group Grandmas for Peace will be issuing a call to convert the War on Terror into a planetary peace movement. At 11am, trumpets will herald the start of the Spring into the Peace Parade from the Peace Pole. The parade will end at Railway Park with a free Planetary Peace Party continued on page 4