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Flood plans for North Ocean Shores in doubt Michael McDonald Flood mitigation plans for the north of the Shire have been thrown into doubt with recent news of a planned $240 million tourist resort at Wooyung in Tweed Shire. According to Mayor Jan Barham, Tweed Council had not alerted Byron Shire to the fact the resort might go ahead while Tweed was complaining to the local government minister about possible effects on cane land of the Kallaroo Circuit Bund at North Ocean Shores. Mayor Barham said that since the disaster-declared floods affecting the northern part of the Shire in June/July 2005 and January 2006, Council has been working with state government authorities to identify the best solution to protect properties and the environment. ‘In May this year, Tweed Shire Council threatened to sue Byron Shire Council over the flooding, blaming the Bund at Kallaroo Circuit in South Golden Beach for increasing flood impacts on cane lands in Tweed Shire,’
Cr Barham said in a press release. ‘Both Councils have asked the Minister for Local Government to see if the dispute can be resolved without litigation. ‘Byron Shire Council was very concerned that Tweed’s approach risked wasting ratepayers’ funds that could be better spent on solutions.
‘Not informed’
ronment and Conservation have been working with Byron Shire Council to identify and seek agreement on alterations to the Bund that will protect property and the environment. Additional flood information has been collected, modelled and analysed. The results have pointed towards modifications to the Bund that everyone, including Tweed Shire Council, agrees could be better than those that the councils came up with in 1996. ‘The value of all this work is now in doubt, because of what is potentially a major impact on flooding in the catchment – approved by Tweed Shire Council,’ said Cr Barham. ‘This raises serious concern for Byron Shire Council regarding possible damages arising from flooding that may affect our assets or residents caused by the Wooyung development.
‘Tweed Shire Council had not informed Byron Shire Council that it had approved a major development at Wooyung in 1988 that did not adequately address flooding impacts in the catchment, and did not tell this Council that the matter was before the Land and Environment Court seeking a determination that the development consent had not lapsed. While complaining to the Minister, Tweed Shire Council knew this development might be resurrected by the Land and Environment Urgent assessment ‘Tweed Shire Council Court, and this is exactly needs to do its own flood what has happened.’ The NSW Departments of assessment urgently, before Natural Resources and Envi- this development gets off the ground.’ Byron Shire Council will consider a confidential report on the matter at its meeting on Tuesday this week. Queensland developer the Samtay Group is seeking partners for the development at its 80ha site off Wooyung Road, which it bought last year for $5.5 million at a mortgagee auction through its 50% interest in JMS Capital Pty Ltd. Samtay chief, Gold Coast businessman Cameron Davis, said, ‘We are very keen to see The Bangalow A&I Hall was packed last Thursday for the annual Wooyung reach its true ‘Wrapped in Bangalow’ fashion parade, which this year raised
It’s a wrap for fashion
funds for the Bangalow and Newrybar primary schools.
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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 #20 TUESDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2006 22,300 copies every week $1 at newsagents only
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Cancer awareness in pink blitz
Three positive role models Barb Pinter, Judy Sunshine and Francis Lamont told of each of their journeys through breast cancer and back to health. These courageous women spoke to the crowd (men and women) who’d come to help plant a ‘Mini Field of Women’ in Railway Park on Monday. The Byron gathering was one of 140 around the country which used small sponsored pink silhouettes of women to focus attention on early detection of breast cancer and raise money for the My Journey kits available to people in their first year of the disease. The Railway Park event was organised by the Byron Bay Breast Cancer Support Group which meets on the third Wednesday of each month at the Senior Citizens Hall in Marvel Street, from 12.30pm to 2.30pm. MC Mandy Nolan brought two of the Shire’s most high profile breasts, violinist Cleis Pearce brought a hauntingly beautiful tone to the rally. Photo Jeff ‘Feeled Of Women’ Dawson
Climate change momentum building
Al Gore’s global warming movie An Inconvenient Truth hits town on Thursday November 2. North Coast Climate Action Group (NCCAG) and the Rainforest Information Centre have purchased tickets for both the 6.30pm and 8.30pm sessions as a fundraiser. Tickets are $15 and $12 concession and can be purchased now from Santos stores at both Mullum and Byron. The film will be screened at Byron Cinemas. ‘Join us for the premiere screening and let’s talk about solutions,’ said NCCAG convenor Gayle Russell. ‘We have some information sheets to guide you on how you can continued on page 2 individually or collectively
start to make a difference on global warming.’ Another event for the calendar is the national ‘Walk Against Warming’ on Saturday November 4 in all the capital cities and some regional areas. Brisbane’s walk will start at 2pm from Queens Park for those who can get there. More details from Georgia 07 5534 8194. NCCAG has decided to organise a gathering on the Saturday November 4 at 9.30am at the Peace Pole, beside the Surf Club, Main Beach. Further info from info@nccag.org or Gayle on 6684 1119. And with Australia now experiencing its most severe
drought on record, Southern Cross University has stepped up its research in the area of climate change. The Centre for Assessing the Effects of Climate Change on Coastal Communities was set up last year to provide scientific information and advice on the potential effects of regional climate change on local communities and industries and to seek sustainable solutions. Centre director Associate Professor Graham Jones said while there was a good understanding of global climate change, it was not known what impact this would have on regional and coastal communities around continued on page 4
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