SEVEN
THE BYRON SHIRE ECHO
WA R N I N G :
M AY
C A U S E
Council’s inaction leaves youth stranded
YAC shuts down Story & photo Lou Beaumont For many years now it has been clear to Byron Shire Council inspectors and to staff at the Byron Bay Youth Activities Centre (YAC) that the YAC facilities require a considerable overhaul to make it a safe place for youth entertainment. So clear in fact, that nine months after a report by Council recommended $111,000 was required to fit out the building appropriately, Council assigned the necessary budget to the YAC. But despite the money having been allocated, the YAC has been unable to obtain a timeline for the necessary work from Council. During the drawn-out process, building inspections by Council have continued and the recommendation to close down as an entertainment venue is now an official directive. Since the early 1990s the
YAC has been operating as a live music venue. With its regular music gigs – about one a fortnight, each attracting up to 250 young people – the YAC has developed a reputation as one of Australia’s leading hardcore venues. According to Andy Parks, part time YAC employee running events and activities, the shows have been hugely successful and largely incident free. He attributes this to the young attendees having a strong sense of ownership of the music and the venue. Mr Parks told The Echo, ‘The recent events have been like something from the script of Yes Minister. One part of Council (Building Certification) has come and shut down another part of Council (The Youth Activities Centre), because a third part of Council (Property and Maintenance) hasn’t
%.4
24!). %.4% '5)$%
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 #32 TUESDAY, JANUARY 23, 2007 22,300 copies every week $1 at newsagents only
21
A L E R T N E S S
So hot, Byron Bay’s chilli sauce is top of the world
Byron Bay Chilli Company’s Fiery Coconut Chilli Sauce has just been awarded the 2007 Grand Prize at the annual Scovie Competition in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The creamy blend of coconut, chilli, curry and ginger must have hit all the right tastebuds of the judges who took part in the blind test. Voted best of the over 700 professional hot sauce entries, Byron Bay Chilli Company is already well known in Albuquerque, having taken out first place in the International BBQ Sauce category several times in the last five years. Byron Bay Chilli Company owner John Boland said, ‘I am thrilled that an Australian sauce won the Grand Prize. It proves the true international scope of the Scovie Awards Competition.’ As a result of its success, continued on page 2 the chilli company is getting a write-up in Voyeur, Virgin Blue’s inflight magazine. The Scovie competition, named after Wilbur Scoville, who invented the heat scale for chillies, is run by Dave Dewitt, editor and publisher
carried out work that the elected Council has allocated funding for and directed them to carry out.’ One of the main concerns, apart from the local youth having nowhere to go for social interaction and entertainment is that the vital Byron Youth Service work and education programs carried out on the premises will be interrupted when Council finally begins renovating the building. ‘The reason we have been pushing to get a timeline for renovations from Council is that the work will inevitably disrupt course schedules,’ Mr Parks said. ‘We need to be able to plan around renovation work to minimise disruption but to date we have no indication of when work may begin and how long it would take.’ The last YAC hardcore show until such time as the
Byron Bay Chilli Company’s John Boland and his world champion sauce. Photo Jeff ‘Aye Caramba!’ Dawson
of Fiery-Foods and BBQ contest is the ultimate indusMagazine. See www.fiery- try recognition for a chilli foods.com. Winning this sauce, according to John.
Sartor weighs in on Wooyung DA
While waiting for the second last live gig on Tuesday night, young YAC enthusiasts consider a future without the venue. A petition was handed around, collecting over 200 signatures. It called for Council to commit to renovating the YAC so that it can gain its Place of Public Entertainment Licence (POPE) and continue providing a drug and alcohol free venue for Byron Shire’s young people.
NSW planning minister Frank Sartor has called for changes to the Samtay Group’s proposed Wooyung resort development application (DA) – based on a 1988 approval upheld by the Land & Environment Court – after meeting with local protesters. ‘This is a highly inferior development which would never have been approved today,’ Mr Sartor told The Echo. ‘I have asked the propo-
nent to reconsider the plans and come back with a new proposal that is in keeping with contemporary environmental requirements. I am hoping to see an outline of the proposal in the next two to three weeks. ‘If the Department of Planning and other agencies agree that there is a significant improvement in the plans we will encourage the proponent to lodge a new application under Part 3A.
‘Residents’ groups have been briefed on these options. I also told them that we will look at the law on lapsing development consents. ‘The developer has indicated a preference for a seniors’ development. We will examine his proposed changes – however, it’s at an early stage and I have not given this possibility my full consideration.’ Local community groups continued on page 2 ,/#!,,9 /7.%$ ,/#!,,9 /0%2!4%$ "92/. "!9
-ENS 5LTIMATE /CEANSEARCH
"OYS #HANNELL
,ADIES 3IERRA
'IRLS 3UMBA
BODY BOARDS
": (" .-$ 0RIDE 0LAY .OMAD ,-./0 3CIENCE 2AWLINGS 63
0ACKAGES
FROM
)NCLUDES l NS COVER LEASH PLUG
"OARDS FOR ALL LEVELS
%NTRY FROM !DVANCED FROM 0RO MODELS FROM