SE VE N
THE BYRON SHIRE
E NT
Mullumbimby 02 6684 1777 Byron Bay 02 6685 5222 Fax 02 6684 1719 editor@echo.net.au adcopy@echo.net.au www.echo.net.au 21,000 copies every week
PA E RT GE AI NM 23 E NT
Volume 24 #08 Tuesday, July 28, 2009
FOR THOSE ANNOYING TIMES BET WEEN NAPS
Govt takes over Parklands plan Farewell to Terrie Wells, Michael McDonald
The NSW government is taking over approval or otherwise of plans for a festival venue on 256 hectares at Yelgun and Wooyung. The owners of the controversial North Byron Shire Parklands site took their proposal to the government after a knockback in the Land and Environment Court following a challenge by Conservation of North Ocean Shores (CONOS) to Byron Shire Council’s approval of a ‘trial’ of the Splendour festival at the site. The government is able to determine the proposal under Part 3A of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act, which allows the planning minister or her staff to judge which proposals are ‘major’ or of special significance. Commenting on the move in a press release, Parklands general manager Mat Morris said, ’We still have
ongoing involvement with the planning department at Byron Council. We will be lodging local DAs to further improve the habitat values of the land and we wish to finalise the subdivision to allow us to dedicate land free of cost to the National Parks and Wildlife Service as an addition to the Nature Reserve. ‘The local community does not lose the right to have input into the processing of our application. The application will be placed on public exhibition and any person can make submissions in the same way that they would with Byron Shire Council. ‘We are confident that we can develop an asset the community will be proud of. One which incorporates cutting edge conservation and sustainability practices and which will provide substantial local employment opportunities.’ In response to the news CONOS
president Bob Oehlman said, ‘The proposal to establish a permanent event site in Byron’s most easterly wildlife corridor is absurd and totally disregards the 20 years of dedication and hard work the community has spent in having the environmental values of this site protected. It also contradicts the position undertaken by the NSW Labor government which has invested millions of dollars and a vast amount of resources in protecting the area and adjoining Reserve land. ‘Two separate Commissions of Inquiry have acknowledged the high conservation and wildlife corridor values and recommended protection. The recent Land & Environment Court judgment also found Byron Council’s consent for a “trial” Splendour in the Grass festival to be “invalid and of no effect” as the proposed
passionate broadcaster
continued on page 2
Spirits balloon at Splendour festival
Yellow balloons helped get the audience in the mood at the Splendour festival in Byron Bay on the weekend. See more of Jeff Dawson’s photos on page 30 and online at www.echo.net.au in the events section of the photo gallery.
BayFM community radio broadcaster Terrie Wells has been missed by many in the community following her sudden death on Monday July 20. Ms Wells was hospitalised after collapsing in her home and died at Tweed Hospital on July 20, never having regained consciousness. According to BayFM, ‘Terrie (onair name Red Terra) had been presenting her informative and much loved program “The Shakedown” on BayFM for almost two decades. Her lively and hard hitting program kept listeners in the picture about local and national environmental issues. ‘Over the years she interviewed many big names of the environmental movement including David Suzuki, Peter Garrett, Paul Watson of Sea Shepherd, Michael Franti, and Helena Norbert-Hodge. ‘Terrie was a founding member of BayFM. She was involved in the first test broadcasts in 1990 and was on air continually since then, except for a break when her son Jarrah was born. ‘BayFM extends its deepest sym-
pathies to her son Jarrah, her mum Ruth Wells and the Wells family. The family would like to invite all friends and community members to attend a celebration of her life to be held on Thursday July 30 at 1pm in the theatre of the Byron Community and Cultural Centre.’ Green & Clean dunecare spokesman Veda Turner told The Echo, ‘Local dunecare volunteers have lost a dear friend and supporter. Terrie made a regular spot available to Green & Clean dunecare coordinators to promote regeneration of Byron Bay’s dunes and to discuss local issues. We miss Terrie’s energetic support, and trust that the empty space she has left will soon find a new voice for the environment and social justice. We love you, Terrie.’ Terrie Wells is quoted on the BayFm website as saying, ‘We live in times of giant emergency and those of us alive today have a huge responsibility: to learn to live today, so that those who come after us can have a tomorrow.’ ■ Tributes, page 12