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 #43 TUESDAY, APRIL 8, 2008 22,700 copies every week
R E A D E R ’ S
Printed on 100% recycled paper
pages 18-19
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Woolworths protest meeting targets impact of big dollars on small town Story & photo Lou Beaumont A community information meeting held at St Johns Hall, Mullumbimby, last Saturday, updated and informed over 200 community members on the development plans for Woolworths in Mullumbimby. Byron Shire Council’s planning director Ray Darney answered questions and clarified rumours as best he could. The questions and responses can be found at the Mullumbimby Community Action Network website, www.mullumaction.org. As for rumours that Woolworths would move into the existing Mallam’s supermarket site in the town centre if the Station Street site wasn’t viable, Woolworths spokesperson Luke Schepen told The Echo, ‘There are no plans at this time surrounding the existing Mallams site. We remain committed to bringing the Station Street site to fruition.’ There were also concerns that Woolies had purchased the two pubs in town. Woolworths told The Echo that this was not the case. The meeting was also a platform for passionate voices on the subject of multinational intrusion into a community that is self sufficient and proud of it. A panel spoke of the consequences of such a development, rousing those gathered and raising new concerns. John Dolman, manager of Santos Trading, spoke on the undeniable impact to the local economy and made no apologies for being against Woolworths coming to town. Dolman said, ‘A development like this will fragment our town and the great feeling we have in our town centre. ‘All the effort that Mullum has made, and is making, to create community can be wiped out just like that. Local businesses are here to serve community and create a common wealth. At a time when more than ever we need to build
resilience and strength in our community, we are instead under attack by a monolithic business. ‘When we look at the local multiplier effect [where money spent locally stays local, circulating among local businesses] we can compare our shopping options. At an estimate, about 0.8% of a dollar spent at Woolworths would remain in this community. Compare that to 30-40 cents of each dollar at Santos, and closer to 90 cents per dollar at a farmer’s market. To me the decision is clear and I personally want to live in a community where we are supporting each other.’ Rose Wanchap, Director of Red Rose Realty, spoke of the potential changes to the real estate market and the need to be wary of hidden agendas on the part of the developers. She said, ‘Big corporations will almost always have a bigger picture agenda behind a development of this kind. ‘Usually a supermarket such as
this will be put up where the corporation believes there to be an imminent influx in the local population, and of course, the only way to ensure such an influx is to increase residential development in the area. As a network you must stay focused on the bigger story behind all of this and pull together.’ Kali Wendorf, social ecologist and editor of Kindred magazine, spoke passionately about the impact Woolworths would have on the social fabric of our community. She said, ‘This is not a done deal yet. It is so important that we fight this. We can change the course of Mullum’s destiny if we want to. ‘Small businesses play such a vital role in the feeling of connection children experience within a town such as ours. Children thrive on connection and the opposite is true of growing up in a fragmented and depersonalised place. ‘Children are the canaries in the societal coalmine. Each one of us,
through our children, will experience the symptoms of a multinational in our otherwise diverse and personal town. Our local supermarkets and businesses invest back into our community and sustain our children’s futures. A market driven economy on the other hand, of which Woolworths is a part, will only stimulate disconnection and associated problems such as dropping out of school, binge drinking, eating disorders, ADD, depression, unemployment and allergies. Our children’s wellbeing is at risk here.’ Helena Norberg-Hodge, founder and director of ISEC (International Society for Ecology & Culture), who has been researching and speaking about the negative effects of globalisation over localisation for years, addressed community members on her niche subject. She said, ‘We exist today in an unfair playing field. Butter from a neighbouring farm costs continued on page 2
Council refutes financial loss report Byron Shire Council has refuted a report in The Sydney Morning Herald that Council has lost $6.9m because of the sub-prime market meltdown ‘It is disappointing that these comments have been made as they are misleading and do not tell the full story of each council’s individual circumstances,’ said acting general manager Phil Warner in a press release. ‘Byron Shire Council is not exposed to the sub-prime market and while many investments have a current market value less than the purchase price, these investments are long-term and are expected to mature at face value, with no impact on ratepayers. ‘In March Council reported its investment portfolio balances for the end of February, highlighting a current market value of $52.2 million as against the principal invested of $56.2 million. The $4 million difference consisted of $2.6m exposure to the equity markets and $1.4m exposure to the credit markets. ‘Council’s exposure to the equity markets is capital protected which means that if held to maturity, as proposed, the full amount of the principal invested will be returned to Council. The exposure to the credit markets does not include sub-prime and will return to full value as it approaches maturity date. ‘While these products are not capital protected, the investments held at Byron Shire Council are expected to reach full value at maturity. In the meantime Council will continue to receive interest payments on its investments. ‘The maturity dates for Council investments range from 2008 to 2014. Council is not exposed to longer maturity dates such as 2047 referred to in the article. ‘Ratepayers can be assured that there will be no rate increases or reduced ability to provide infrastructure as referred to by Mr Costa,’ Mr Warner said.