Melbourne Cup Day
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 Available early Tuesday at: http://www.echo.net.au VOLUME 22 #21 TUESDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2007 22,300 copies every week
Tuesday, y, November 6th 6
H A N D Y
M A K E S H I F T
See pages 22-23
S P L I N T
Byron Bay library gets go-ahead
Head cops it on chin for November Fair
Plan (DCP) guidelines, among other things. However her motion was lost 5-4 with some councillors concerned there was no report from staff on the proposal. Instead, an amendment from Cr John Lazarus to get a staff report first on her proposal got the nod. Cr Barham backed her proposal
Michael McDonald After many years of waiting the new Byron Bay library on the Sandhills Estate finally got the goahead last week when Byron Shire Council voted 7-3, Crs Tucker, Tardif and Woods opposed, in favour of the option sought by Friends of the Library and the library committee. Mayor Jan Barham, who seconded the motion by Cr Jan Mangleson, told The Echo, ‘The approval of the library concept plan is a long awaited outcome and means that we can now proceed with the development application and some much needed fundraising. ‘The library will be a whole of community space, providing not only for education but also the enjoyment and appreciation of literature as well as arts and culture with an exhibition space being part of the plan. The commitment to a green building will be another feature of this project and will set a benchmark for contemporary building in the Shire. ‘Many thanks go the Friends of the Library and Council’s Library committee who have been committed to the library project for many years. We will be looking at options to seek community financial support as well as recognition for major donations.’ In a report Council staff had recommended a smaller library design, saying the favoured project ‘is still significantly over budget and the architect has advised that the project cannot be delivered at the scope specified in the current budget [of $3.7 million]’. During public access Bob Levett, president of Byron Friends of the Library, spoke against the option recommended by staff. ‘It has no community space and does not meet state government requirements for fitout grants in the future,’ Mr Levett said. ‘To go down this path seems quite ridiculous.’
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New principal Vlad Knaus takes one on the chin for the good of Mullum Public as sympathetic students look on. Photo Jeff ‘Sponge Bob Square Pants’ Dawson
The intrepid new principal of Mullumbimby Public School, Vlad Knaus, has bravely volunteered to be one of those to be christened with wet sponges at the ‘Splash Clash’ stall this Friday evening from 4.30pm to raise funds at the Mullumbimby November Fair.
Get in the queue early as Vlad will only ‘clown around’ as the target of your wet sponges for an hour, and there are a lot of excited school children also eager for the chance. The children can also enjoy Cup and Saucer, the Bat Tail, the Lost
Temple and the Mini Jumping Castle. Adults can visit the sculpture show, walk the tealight labyrinth and hear about its meaning from storyteller Jenni CargillStrong. Bargain hunters will appreciate the stalls while the auction offers
tickets to the Missy Higgins concert. Entertainment begins at 5pm – The Kindys will dance to ‘Splish Splash’ and a band of parents will perform, featuring Stewey of Sarah Tindley’s band on guitar and Dave Sanders, who drums for Lisa Hunt.
Council looks at climate change impact Michael McDonald Byron Shire Council voted 9-0 last week, Cr Ross Tucker absent, to consider the impact of climate change on its planning instruments and future land development. Council staff will bring a report to Council on climate change parameters proposed by Mayor Jan Barham. In a mayoral minute Cr Barham
moved that in determining its strategic planning processes Council will take into account temperature increases of 0.7 to 5.6 degrees C until 2070; sea-level rises of 18cm91cm up until the end of this century; increases in rainfall intensities of 5%-40% by the end of this century; increase in cyclone intensities by 2050 of 10% to 20%, with peak wind speeds 5% to 10% faster;
and increases in maximum rainfall of 20% to 30% and storm surges increases of 20cm to 50cm. She also favoured adopting a 100 year planning model which would look at applying the climate change parameters to coastline management; floodplain management, emergency management, and Local Environmental Plan (LEP) zoning and Development Control
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