RAMS WIN
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 #17 TUESDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2006 22,300 copies every week $1 at newsagents only
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Council rocked by youth Michael McDonald Byron Shire Councillors voted 9-1 last week, Cr Ross Tucker opposed, to reverse an earlier decision and allow a regional youth music festival to be held in Denning Park, Byron Bay, on January 25 next year. Called Get Rocked, the festival was already in line for $20,000 in state government funding if it could get Council to authorise use of the park. Crs Barham, Staples and Tabart lodged the rescission motion on an August vote not to allow the festival. This was successful 8-2, Crs Tucker and Tardif opposed. The replacement motion not only gives approval for the festival but allows Council to review the financial
prospects of the festival, based on ticket pre-sales, at the end of November. Council will be the auspicing body for the festival, controlling the expenditure of funds as it did with Byron Bay New Years Eve celebrations, for example. ‘If they haven’t got pre-sales, we might pull the plug,’ Cr Barham said. Volunteer festival organiser Katie Watts addressed Councillors on the issue during public access. ‘I am still conďŹ dent this festival will not make any losses,’ she told them. ‘The budget also highlights the potential profit that could be made. That should be a clear indication that the event would be self sustainable and potentially con-
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See sport – page 49
Celebrating Moi’s life
tinue for years to come. ‘Our plan is to get approval today‌ and proceed to formally book our currently tentative bands within the next three weeks. Tickets will be available from Monday November 6. Given that just Byron and Mullum High have more than 3,000 kids combined, and through extensive research at least 60% of these kids are into the bands we are providing‌ we have no doubt that Get Rocked will sell out. ‘If by the end of November it is clear that the ticket sales are slow Council can revisit the budget and ďŹ nancial situation of the event.’ Councillors’ main concerns were the potential of a ďŹ nancial loss if the
Joy Vogel, right, has made the choice to celebrate rather than grieve the loss of the short life of her daughter Moi and her unborn grandchild, both of whom perished in the 2004 Tsunami. Moi would have been 34 last Thursday, and 14 special friends gathered at Joy’s Mullumbimby home to see the specially commissioned continued on page 4 paintings honouring their spirits. Joy was in the air as artist Roslyne Breillat embraced Joy, who said she was deeply touched by the intense blissful love which shone through the paintings as it had from her daughter. Photo Jeff Dawson
Byron Creek receives a peaceful blessing
T2E route ‘major step forward’ claims Minister Announcing the preferred route for the upgrade of the PaciďŹ c Highway between Tintenbar and Ewingsdale, NSW roads minister Eric Roozendaal said it was ‘a major step forward in getting the upgrade for the PaciďŹ c Highway completed’. This, however, is not the opinion of many lobby groups and local residents affected by the route. ‘The preferred route was selected after considerable community consultation and ďŹ eld investigations,’ Mr Roozendaal said in a press release. ‘It gives certainty for the communities that live along the Pacific Highway. The preferred route provides the best balance between community needs, environmental protection and boosting the state’s economy. ‘Over the last ten years the NSW A week of activities including meditations, dissertations, divinations, recitations, a concert and the creation of a sand man- Labor government has contributed dala for peace by the Tashi Lhunpo Monks at the A&I Hall in Bangalow, concluded on Saturday. The dissolution of the man- $1.65 billion to PaciďŹ c Highway upgrade with the federal governdala brought together two world renowned peace emissaries, Ngakchen Rinpoche, head abbot of the Tibetan Buddhist ment contributing $660 million. Tashi Lhunpo monastery, and J Reuben Silverbird, Native American Peace Ambassador for the United Nations. Sand from There’s more to do, but we are the mandala was dispersed into the Byron Creek in Bangalow. This gesture symbolised a wish of peace and happiness for our shire. Silverbird, a story teller and musician who has shared the stage with Eartha Kitt, the Dalai Lama, Bill Clinton heading in the right direction with and Diana Ross, will return to Byron for a concert at the Byron Bay Community Centre on October 20. Photo Jeff Dawson a further $1.3 billion to be spent
on the PaciďŹ c Highway over the next three years by the NSW and Australian governments.’’ The preferred route follows the Sandy Flat Road to Ross Lane section of the Ballina bypass, then a section just west of the existing highway between Ross Lane and south of Newrybar. It then crosses over and stays just to the east of the existing highway, using part of the existing Bangalow bypass and a zoned road reserve The new route will then deviate to the east to go under the St Helena Hill via a short tunnel and then connect to the existing highway at Ewingsdale. With the preferred route selected, community members are invited to give their feedback on matters such as access arrangements, reducing impact on the immediate environment, drainage infrastructure and noise management. Mr Roozendaal urged members of the public to visit the display locations and to give the RTA their feedback on the preferred route continued on page 2
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