Byron Shire Echo – Issue 28.07 – 23/07/2013

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THE BYRON SHIRE Volume 28 #07 Tuesday, July 23, 2013 Phone 02 6684 1777 Fax 02 6684 1719 editor@echo.net.au adcopy@echo.net.au www.echo.net.au 23,200 copies every week CAB !5$)4 North Coast news daily: www.echonetdaily.net.au

Inside this week

8 PAGE LIFTOUT

E VERYONE HAS THE RIGHT TO SEEK AND TO ENJOY IN OTHER COUNTRIES ASYLUM FROM PERSECUTION: U N I V E R S A L D E C L A R AT I O N O F H U M A N R I G H T S , A R T I C L E 1 4

SEE CENTRE PAGES

Get your bucket Mungo’s take on Vision for More news from list in order Rudd’s fascism turn Mullum in 2025 the writers’ – p16–17 about – p10 – p15 festival – p34

More than just CSG free

Byron Shire Council Notices Pages 48–49

NYE plans unveiled

Staff reporters

Staff reporters

Sunday’s Byron CSG free declaration was much more than just saying ‘no’ to any possible mining in the region. As Byron Shire mayor Simon Richardson said, ‘With one voice, Byron Bay has stated it wants a clean energy future. The technology and willpower is there, and what this says to the political and business leaders is that it’s time to grow up and give us energy that doesn’t cost the Earth.’ But the day didn’t just highlight the insanity of being fossil fuel dependent given sun, wind and hydro. Boosted by the beachside markets, visitors and locals were treated to a full day of activities and entertainment – from yoga right through to performances by Goanna’s Shane Howard and ten year old MC Holley Somerville-Knott. The day came in the week that that the NSW Farmers’ Association called on the state government to allow rural communities to have a direct say in whether CSG projects proceed.

Q See the video of this story

at After a lengthy door-to-door survey, Byron Bay unveiled the tally on Sunday: 98.6 per cent want their town CSG free. The day was also a reminder that the state and federal governments are undeniably influenced by fossil fuel lobbyists. More importantly, the Clean Energy Council, which regulates the renewable industry, has members mainly from the fossil fuel industry and has no governmental oversight. Photo Jeff Dawson

New Brighton beach scraping works get state funding Beach scraping works to the tune of $57,500 have been announced for New Brighton by the state government. The announcement was part of a $7.5m Coastal Management Program and the project ranked fourth among 26 across the state. Meanwhile a total of $3.8 million has been announced for Estuary Management Programs across the state. Tweed Shire Council was ranked first of 36 shires with projects, and will receive $50,000 for ‘Tweed Coastal Floodplain – ASS

the funding announcement. He says the work is scheduled to be completed in spring; however, he warned that the beach profile would need to recover between now and then. ‘Beach scraping involves moving sand from the lower beach to the upper side. Currently the New Brighton beach profile is severely depleted and there is little sand to work with. ‘In past years, the beaches have recovered between now and September but it’s a case of wait and see. We

Hotspot Identification and Remediation.’

Coastal hazards NSW environment minister Robyn Parker said, ‘The Coastal Management Program provides funds to support local government in managing the risks from coastal hazards, such as coastal erosion, and restoring degraded coastal habitats.’ Byron Shire Council’s executive manager of planning and environment, Ray Darney, has welcomed

may need to defer the works if there is not enough sand in spring.’ Mr Darney added that beach scraping was a temporary fix to coastal erosion. ‘Council last did beach scraping at New Brighton in 2010. While successful, recent storms have since seen the beach profile depleted.’ The funding grant was dollar for dollar with Byron Shire Council contributing the same amount. For further information see www. byron.nsw.gov.au/new-brightonbeach-scraping.

A new year Falls Festival has been announced at the Splendour site at North Parklands in Yelgun, prompting excitement on social media and chagrin from some neighbours. Meanwhile Byron’s new years eve celebrations are moving closer to being finalised, and look to include strict non-local traffic restrictions and a family-friendly emphasis. Seen as an attempt to alleviate Byron’s NYE pressure from backpackers and revellers, mayor Simon Richardson told The Echo that once he learned of the Falls Festival’s application for January, he asked for it to be held over NYE as a component of Council’s new Safe Summer and Cultural Activities strategy. But some residents that neighbour the site are less than impressed. Conservation of North Ocean Shores (CONOS) president Bob Oehlman told The Echo, ‘You would have to be a fool to think that by bringing the Falls Festival to Yelgun this would make a difference to NYE in Byron Bay. Byron Bay is the destination that people what to come to. ‘Contrary to what the Green (?) mayor says, the NSW planning department and the RMS will have the final say. To bring in an extra 20,000 people into the Byron Shire in peak holiday time is a joke. Like what happened in Lorne, you would be simply transferring the problem from Byron Bay to the north. It is obvious that the promoters have no consideration for the local community and no consideration for the wildlife. The residents of Lorne didn’t want it and neither do we.’ continued on page 3

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