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 #23 TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2006 22,300 copies every week $1 at newsagents only
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Renewable energy Sceptre and clown must tumble down... targets for NSW described as ‘modest’ Mandatory renewable energy targets announced by NSW premier Morris Iemma have been welcomed by Greenpeace but also described as modest in their scope. The new targets mean that by law ten per cent of electricity consumed in NSW by 2010 will have to come from renewable energy sources such as solar and wind. The mandatory figure will rise to 15% by 2020. ‘The need to act on climate change and greenhouse gas emis-
sions is clear,’ Mr Iemma said in a press release last week. ‘The cost to the average household of reaching a 15% mandatory renewable target will be approximately $1 per week in the year 2020. ‘The cost of doing nothing is more frightening. This initiative will send a strong signal to the renewable energy sector that NSW is a place it can do business.’ Mr Iemma said the targets would reduce greenhouse gas emissions in NSW by 115 million tonnes. continued on page 2
Aarrrrrrr! Russian born side-side-showshow operator ‘Bobby the Incredible’ (or was it Sideshow Bob?) reckons it is inflation which keeps his stall afloat. Unfortunately for Bob’s blow-up toy sales, and the rest of the carny crew at the 99th Mullumbimby Show on Friday, business was not as brisk as the weather. Photo Jeff ‘Plastic Fantastic’ Dawson
Call to reinstate coastal council
Megan Schneider climbs Tiana Randell’s shoulders while Chloe Robinson and Billie Wilson-Coffey try to avast their hearties before they rescue the wench in datdress, Paris Mckey. These pirates were in rehearsal for Spaghetti Circus‘s big gig – see story front page of Seven. Photo Jeff ‘Scurvy Bilgerat’ Dawson
At last week’s NSW Coastal Council Conference held at Coffs Harbour there was unanimous support for a motion presented by Byron Shire Mayor Jan Barham to call for the reinstatement of the NSW Coastal Council. ‘In 2003 the NSW ALP government disbanded the Coastal Council by creating new legislation that saw the dismissal of 82 advisory committees and boards, including the Coastal Council under the Natural Resources legislation,’ said Cr Barham in a press release. ‘At a time of increasing awareness of the value and vulnerability of the coast it was a short-sighted move that has left the coast without a coordinated focus. ‘The NSW Coastal Conference for the last three years has discussed the repercussions of the demise of the coastal council and the loss of significant focus on the monitoring and management of
the coastal zone. At a time of increasing concern regarding climate change and its impacts on the coastal zone, there is a vital need for a coordinated approach to provide guidance and support to local government.’ The motion supported by the conference also included support for seeking the views of political parties in relation to the reinstatement of the Coastal Council in the lead up to the March 2007 state election. There was also support for the establishment of an alliance of NSW coastal councils and for a workshop to be convened by Geoff Withycombe, the Executive Officer of the Sydney Coastal Council Group. ‘Mr Withycombe recently met with Byron Shire Council representatives to provide information about the programs and operations of the SCCG and how they may assist Council,’ Cr Barham said.
The conference keynote speech was delivered by Professor Judith Kildow from California State University. Dr Kildow, who was a senior research fellow at Harvard University in the 1980s, had heard of Byron Bay by reputation and paid a visit after the conference. Her presentation highlighted the value of the National Ocean Economics Program which provides data on ocean related economic activity and resource trends to assist with management decisions. The data analysis has identified the importance of conservation to coastal communities and key social issues relating to the impact of growth. The program is available online at www.oceaneconomics.org. Established in 1979 the Coastal Council was charged with providimg advice, reports and recommendations on coastal issues to the Minister for Planning.