THE BYRON SHIRE ECHO
CANDIDATE ROUNDUP
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 #14 TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2008 22,700 copies every week
WHAT, ME WORRY?
B Y R O N
Printed on recycled paper
Businesses move to support Barham Some 137 local businesses have have come out in support of 04-08 mayor Jan Barham in the last week before the council election this Saturday. Organiser of the support, local real estate agent Rose Wanchap, has also arranged a ‘Byron Shire Businesses Meet The Candidates’ meeting for this Friday, 5.30pm-7.30pm, at the Byron Bay Community Centre, and former Northern Star editor Russell Eldridge has agreed to be moderator. ‘Having this many businesses agree to publicly declare their support for a political party or person is nothing short of miraculous,’ Ms Wanchap told The Echo, ‘especially in the business world where aligning oneself with a party can be very detrimental to business. My own businesses depend on public opinion so I was concerned but decided to throw caution to the wind. ‘We should have been having more person to person debates and much more interaction with the candidates. It is too easy to fool the public with the written word but face to face and on the spot questions reveal another side to our prospective candidates. ‘If I was interviewing someone for a job in my office, I would certainly ask a lot of questions to ascertain their qualifications before giving them a job. These guys are
B A L L O T
B A L L E T
PAGES 22-25
Fun on the run at Fatherhood Festival
going to get the job with so few questions having been asked.’
‘No time for apathy’ Outgoing Byron Shire councillor Peter Westheimer has said there is no time for apathy or complacency in the upcoming council election this Saturday. ‘Only recently developers approached Council about a high rise Hilton or Sheraton hotel in the Byron Woolworths plaza,’ Mr Westheimer said. ‘Please find out which candidates genuinely represent the long term interests of shire residents, our children and future generations. ‘Within the global context of climate change, food shortages and peak oil, we can’t afford to pretend that it’s business as usual in our north coast paradise. ‘It’s time for us to protect our remaining agricultural lands and improve biodiversity. We can help protect our community from global uncertainties by electing councillors who understand the challenges at hand and who will vote for cultural, social, economic and environmental sustainability and have a track record to prove it.’
Aysha Ndiaye, 8, streaks ahead of her friend Ayesha Bruckner, also 8, in the Bungee Fun Run at the Fatherhood Festival in Bangalow on Sunday – Ayesha had her revenge on the next run. A bigger than ever crowd filled the festival with laughs and hugs and kisses for dads. Family Idol was a huge hit and celebrity judge Damien Leith’s enjoyment of his role was palpable. Mayor Jan Barham and festival director Colin George presented the Bangalow Father of the Thalmann tops ranking Year Award to Nashua dad Alex Peterson. Alex’s wife, Ocean Shores resident Rene Cindy, had nominated her husband for his devoted Thalmann of the Shire Wide Action care and support of his stepdaughter Alex, as well as Group (SWAG) has been ranked continued on page 2
Born to be wild: one of the mature age candidates, Tom Tabart, 70, gets his motor running in time for the council election.
their two sons Jack and Flynn, 11 and six years old. Sixteen year old Alex is brain damaged and requires constant care. Such duty of care, Peterson says, falls primarily on his wife Cindy who he claims is the one who really deserves the award. An emotionally overcome Alex Peterson told The Echo, ‘This was a total surprise to me, I’m quite emotional about it really. It just reminds you what you’ve been through over the years. We don’t ever look for anything in return for caring for Alex but it is really nice to have some recognition.’ Photo Lou Beaumont
Public meeting on Bangalow bypass options
The Bangalow Community Alliance is holding a community forum on Monday September 15 on the subject: ‘Pacific Highway Upgrade proposals: Finding Common Ground’. The forum, to be held at the Bangalow A&I Hall, will begin promptly at 6.30pm and run until 9pm. Residents of the town and hinterland who are affected by the proposed highway upgrades are invited to attend. Facilitated by Mick O’Regan and filmed by Terry Bleakley, the purpose of the forum will be to inform the affected Bangalow community of the findings of the RTA in their recently announced
Environmental Assessement (EA). After a presentation by the RTA’s T2E Project Manager, Toby Heys, on the EA and the scope for a preliminary investigation of a southern bypass, a number of community groups will present their points of view on the subject. Bob Deards will speak for the Bangalow Chamber of Commerce, outlining the findings of their recent survey of 132 members on five options and impact issues. Speaking for the bangalow 2020 group’s proposal will be Tony Hart and Ian Hay. Members of the Ewingsdale
Progress Association headed by Bob Johnston, with Bangalow residents Chris Shevellar and Jenny Coman, proposed to Byron Council that there be a by-pass built south of Bangalow, which was accepted. Cr Jan Mangleson will speak, as a private individual, on the expected traffic flows of this proposal. Bangalow resident Brian Sundstrom will speak on behalf of those who support a study of a proposed southern bypass. Reg Mills will speak for one aspect of the transport industry affected by the proposed highway continued on page 2