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 #06 TUESDAY, JULY 15, 2008 22,700 copies every week Printed on recycled paper
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Protesters burn the Woolies ‘box’
moral ground to suggestions that if the construction were to be hampered by certain ‘obstructions’, then the development would not be a cost effective exercise and the company may simply sell the land back to the community at a cheap price. Mayor Jan Barham said she felt that the community has been betrayed by the system. ‘Despite the community saying no, the state government wants to go ahead,’ said the Mayor. ‘There is a live DA for this site and this is where we have been done over. ‘I wish we could retract that DA but we can’t. I ask you to write to the premier and let him know that we are being shafted by the current laws, we have to let him know we are not happy.’
Local real estate agent Mark Cochrane warned that not only would property values in the area decrease because of the development but also that the proposed Woolworths ‘one stop shop’ would turn the main street into a derelict town, with empty shop fronts covered in grafďŹ ti similar to the exterior of the recently vacated Chincogan Tavern. Garry Scott reminded protesters that the community outbid Woolies for a piece of real estate, referring to the old Telstra site. ‘We’ve got this company worried,’ said Mr Scott. ‘We have shown Woolies our strength. It is amazing that their section 96 was not successful. That’s thanks to us. ‘We have them on the run and if
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Minister approves rates rise
the government passes this, then there is something very, very wrong, someone must be on the take and there is no way we will not go to the ICAC.’ After the speeches protesters walked en masse along the railway line to the development site in Station Street which was marked out in yellow tape to show the size of the structure. Balloons oated several metres above the crowd as an indicator of the height of the building and in the centre of the area was placed a large cardboard box, a representation of the design of the new Mullumbimby Woolworths. In true Mullum style there was a ceremony which called upon those gathered to shout out what
Michael McDonald NSW local government minister Paul Lynch last Thursday approved Byron Shire Council’s application for an extra 6.22% on the statewide pegged rate of 3.2% for the coming financial year. About 25 NSW councils were successful in getting a rate variation. At its extraordinary meeting last Thursday to set the rate, Council had to defer the matter until later in the day when the Minister’s advice arrived. Councillors then voted unanimously to set the rate and various other charges such as waste management fees. Mayor Jan Barham said the approval of the rate increase is recognition of the strong case put by Council of the need for additional funds to provide services to the community. ‘Council’s submission included letters of support and it is appreciated that Byron United were able to provide their support for the rate increase request,’ said Cr Barham in a press release. ‘There are many projects that Council is seeking to deliver, but with a low population and rate base the total amount of rates collected is low compared to higher population areas. ‘The high tourism appeal of the area, and particularly Byron Bay, means there are additional pressures and expectations that Council would like to meet but funds are limited. The increase means that Council will now be able to improve services and deliver much needed works. ‘For the last four years there has been a 2% Biodiversity Levy; now this amount has been approved as a perpetual Environmental Levy. This means the rate increase exclusive of the Environmental Levy is 4.22%. The Environmental Levy will be allocated to the implementation of Biodiversity and Greenhouse Strategy actions, Coastal and Estuary Management Plan
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An effigy of the Woolworths ‘big box’ goes up in flames at last Saturday’s rally in Mullumbimby. See more photos on our new website at www.echo.net.au inside July Echo Extra in Galleries.
Story & photo Eve Jeffery The atmosphere was more fun than ďŹ ght at Saturday’s protest in Mullumbimby against the Woolworths development, but the impassioned speeches from those on the podium left no doubt as to what was the motivation of the assembled crowd. About 300 protesters including children, dogs, drummers and pipers converged on Apex Park in what organisers feel was the last ditch effort to rally support before planning minister Frank Sartor decides on the current modiďŹ cations to the plan of what is becoming known simply as The Big Box. The speakers’ messages were a mixture of calls to ďŹ ght to the good ďŹ ght from a position on the high