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 23 #04 TUESDAY, JULY 1, 2008 22,700 copies every week Printed on recycled paper
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It was that Permo-drive Angels descend on the Bay close, 99.9 supporters hold their breath Eve Jeffery Shareholders and interested parties of PermoDrive sit watching the clock as it ticks past the eleventh hour this week, waiting for a response from the government as to what the future of the company will be. With the increasing cost of fuel and energy consumption high on the list of world priorities, many are saying that Permo-Drive, an hydraulic hybrid system for trucks that has been proven to save in excess of 25% in diesel fuel usage, should also be high on the list of companies to support and so say the seven million hard-earned mums’ and dads’ dollars that have been invested in the project. ‘We have a lot of small investors,’ says PermoDrive managing director John Thompson. ‘There are people from the community who believe in what we are doing. They are mums and dads who thought they were doing something good for the environment.’ The wall that Permo-Drive is banging its head against is the Rudd government’s abolition of the Commercial Ready R&D grant scheme in the May 2008 Federal Budget, a scheme that would have enabled Permo-Drive to apply for up to $5 million in grants to become commercialised in Australia. Many question abolishing the grant at a time when the Federal Government is considering giving a $35 million subsidy to foreign multinational Toyota for its hybrid vehicle. ‘A Toyota Prius which does about 15,000 kilometres in the city will save about 600 litres of fuel per year. A seven to fifteen tonne truck which does about 75,000 kilometres per year would save approximately 4,800 litres. That’s a big difference,’ said Mr Thompson. ‘We have a plan A and a Plan B. Plan A is to go into voluntary administration. There is a practical limit to how far we can go. We need a certain amount in the bank to wind down properly and only have a month or so until we get to that limit. It would be heartbreak for the shareholders. ‘Plan B is to try and finance from wherever we can. With all the media attention we have had a lot of people coming out of the woodwork making enquiries.’ Mr Thompson also feels a scheme similar to that of the film industry whereby the government gives tax concessions to those who support the arts would work for those who wish to supcontinued on page 7
Astro, well-known angel in this quadrant of paradise, was seduced from heaven by the wicked Contessa d’Valium to form Slot Machine and disturb the peace at Saturday night’s Décolletage in the Byron Community Centre. Described as a night of pomp and skulduggery, it was the brain spawn of the Contessa (Melanie Knight) and Baroness Von Strangedreams (Llama Kendall), who operate as Repeat Offenders. The audience of nearly 250 had obviously dug deep to come up with a wonderful array of finery that stretched from Gothic Fantasy to Domestic Fetish. They were treated to artworks and installations, food and performance. Entertainment came in bite-sized chunks from the likes of Professor Blix, who dragged some hot lix from his box of acoustic and digital trix. Mistress Weird and Madam Twisted nailed it in a bent kind of way, and Lou-Lou’s aerial burlesque was a highlight. Icon sang the Muses of Midnight Madness and Slot Machine paid off in the end. Photo by Jeff ‘Featherweight’ Dawson
There was good news for Bay FM last week as their lease was finally renewed without the feared rent increase that would have broken the community radio’s fragile budget. The roof over the station’s head has been hanging in mid air since the expiration of their lease last December in the Byron Community Cultural Centre. Initial lease negotiations had left the members nervous about their future in the Community Centre. The BCCC has a large mortgage on the five-year-old building. When lease renewals came around they had the building professionally valued and attempted to negotiate new leases based on market values. The terms and rates that were initially offered were not achievable, said Bay FM President, Gayle Cue. However, the Bay FM Management Committee is extremely happy to report that the BCCC came to the table this past week with an offer that is one they can meet. The new lease calls for a rent increase of approximately $70 per week and no other changes to the original lease. Bay FM’s annual rent is now $24,000 excluding GST and outgoings. Bay FM agreed to leasing space in the BCCC prior to its construction. The community radio studios were built primarily with volunteer labour and support from businesses providing building materials in exchange for on air sponsorship announcements. Although Bay FM has been broadcasting from their studios in the BCCC for only the past two years, they have been paying rent for the full five year lease. Bay FM invites the community to continue to tune into 99.9 for local news and views and some foot stomping, boogie woogie, trance dancing tunes. Bay FM is located in the Byron Community Cultural Centre, upstairs, Fletcher Street entrance. Check out www.bayfm.org.