THE BYRON SHIRE
2013
Sample Food Festival
Volume 28 #13 Tuesday, September 3, 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
Inside this week
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CAB AUDIT
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Page 27 Byron Shire Council Notices Page 49
Colour, sparkle and unity for Living Earth Mullumbimby’s diverse community came together on Sunday to celebrate the Living Earth festival, which featured a street parade similar to the Chincogan Fiesta parade held fifteen years ago. An excited Jeannette Martin from the Community Gardens told The Echo Sunday that the parade saw a ‘diverse range of groups, from environmental groups to scouts, to the fire brigade and the herb nursery.’ The event was a collaboration between the Community Gardens and the Mullum Chamber of Commerce. The day’s activities spread across the entire town and included the Rukkus skate comp at the skatepark. Meanwhile the gardens displayed an abundance of food, the result of Parading through Mullumbimby is Megan Schneider and Sharni Graham, who added a touch of historical grace to an otherwise raucous rabble. Photo Jeff Dawson Q See video of this story at
hard work from volunteers over the last four years. The gardens were originally created from a, ‘desire to be part of a more sustainable solution’, says Sarah-Jane Potts, festival director and president of the community gardens. She told The Echo that the Living Earth festival was about being, ‘more sustainable, more part of the solution and less of the problem.’
Sustainablity solution ‘It occurred to me, and a group of people I was talking with, that if we got together, all the pieces of the puzzle would fall into place and that it would create that shift and seed a more sustainable culture here on this Earth. I would like to see us earning our name as a forwardthinking shire and this festival is evidence that it’s who we are.’ Former Chincogan Fiesta parade organiser Trevor Watts said that there were the most cars in town that he’d seen in a ‘long long time’.
Liquor precinct plans to be explored by Council Plans for a Byron Bay liquor accord precinct will be explored after Byron Shire Council voted unanimously in favour at Thursday’s ordinary meeting. Designed to work alongside liquor accords, precincts are generally found in larger city areas and are established by the Office of Liquor and Gaming (OLGR), and would have mandatory conditions. The motion’s author, Cr Paul Spooner, says he changed his mind on the issue after he attended the recent Last Drinks at 12 meeting, where health professionals and po-
lice spoke firsthand of the issues they face with alcohol-fuelled violence. The meeting drew a full house and also highlighted the high rate of incidents in Byron Bay compared to other areas. However the town’s liquor accord chairperson Hannah Spalding says that the industry’s self-imposed measures are now taking effect and wouldn’t necessarily stop after the review later in the year. Cr Spooner told The Echo, ‘Council will be asking the Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority (ILGA) to review extended trading liquor licences currently operating
in Byron Bay. This means any aftermidnight liquor licences. This is to ascertain what is in the community’s best interests, given the overwhelming number of harmful incidents occur at that time of night. Council has also recommended that there be a freeze on the granting of any new extended trading liquor licences while the review is undertaken.’ But despite the vote being unanimous, opinions were divided during debate. Cr Sol Ibrahim acknowledged problems, but objected, ‘to the way it’s being addressed.’ ‘When there are risks, we weigh
them up. I don’t see the Last Drinks at 12 people representing the people affected – they are not out at these times. I go out late at night and have not been at risk. It’s a simplistic view. I want to drink after midnight… We need more police presence and compliance by licensees.’ And Cr Chris Cubis asked if there had been enough consultation with youth, business and the liquor accord. ‘What will the kids do? Where will they go – to the beach, the park? We know that there are some that want to shut down parts of the tourism industry… but we
haven’t done our bit. This will affect the town’s economy.’ However mayor Simon Richardson reminded councillors the motion was not an endorsement of the Last Drinks at 12 group. ‘Instead, it shows support for a precinct and recommends a freeze on extending hours.’ In morning public access at Thursday’s meeting, Last Drinks at 12 representatives asked Council to support the group’s aims, saying their evidence suggests that for every hour earlier a venue ceases the serving of alcohol, physical assaults decrease by approximately 17 per cent.