THE BYRON SHIRE Volume 28 #15 Tuesday, September 17, 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 AUDIT
Living I T H I N K T H E R E F O R E I A M N O T T H E D A I LY T E L E G R A P H
Property for Hot Potato Campbell waxes Gig Mungo’s Inside Fluoridation lyrical over two Guide sale throughout agitation new election Potato this new films – p24 – p25 the Shire – p40 – p11 – p19 book! – p13 week
Springing into the 2013 Lighthouse run
pages 14-18
Byron Shire Council Notices Page 39
Six month wait on Byron Bay ADSL2+ Staff reporters
If you’re thinking of opening a business in Byron Bay that depends on a high-speed internet connection, then stand in line because there are no business-grade ADSL2+ ports available. And businesses who cancel their ADSL port to move to new premises need to be particularly wary, as their cancelled port will be given to any other business that happens to ring up at the right time. Wireless internet service providers, who don’t depend on Telstra ADSL ports, report a constant level of enquiry. Drew Moorley from internet provider WIRES said, ‘the two most common calls we receive are from Byron businesses who have been told by Telstra that there are no ports available, or that they have been placed on a “pair-gain” line, with decreased capacity.’ A gorgeous Sunday saw the Byron Lighthouse run draw over 700 competitors, with Ben Walters winning the 10 km race in 36 minutes and 38 seconds. Second place couldn’t have been much closer, with Joel Organ clocking 37 minutes and Mitchell Barnes 37 minutes and two seconds. Co-organiser Lisa Parkes told The Echo that over 90 prizes were donated by Byron businesses and money raised went to Our House and Langtang Valley Health, who help Nepalese families access health services. Photo Jeff ‘Oh What A Feeling’ Dawson
Library service cuts mooted Beautify Byron Day vollies needed Axing the mobile library stops in Suffolk Park, Ocean Shores and Federal, made in a Counil staff report, is just one suggestion to achieve budget savings of $65,500. The report, to be tabled by councillors at the upcoming September 19 meeting, includes other cost-saving measures such as decreasing opening hours by one hour in all three library branches, Monday to Friday, and reducing the resources purchas-
ing allocation by $7,903. The report says the estimated saving for the mobile library would be $12,022 after a new timetable was established and that, ‘Due to low use in Federal and the close proximity to branch libraries in both Suffolk Park and Ocean Shores, cancelling these three stops will have less impact on the community members than closing Brunswick Heads one afternoon a week.’
Mayor Simon Richardson is asking the Byron Bay community to spare a couple of hours and help out at the inaugural Beautify Byron Day this Sunday September 22. ‘On from 8am until midday, we need help with garden planting, graffiti removal or small repairs in the town centre. Staff will prepare the work areas, organise the plants and mulch etc… all we need is the Byron Shire community spirit.’
‘Coming into the busy months of the year for visitors, it’s also a good start to spruce up the town and roll out the welcome mat.’ Volunteers will meet at the new Byron Bay Library on the corner of Middleton and Lawson Streets. ‘Don’t forget to wear a longsleeve shirt, enclosed shoes, a hat, gloves, sunscreen, and bring a bottle of water. It’s also a great way to make new friends.’ Register at www.byron.nsw.gov.au.
Significant investment But a spokesperson for the telco did tell The Echo that ‘Telstra will be adding additional DSL2+ infrastructure to the [Byron Bay] exchange in the next six months. ‘Telstra has made significant investment in DSL2+ technology in Byron Bay in the past 12 months, with installing additional DSL2+ infrastructure to a streetside cabinet where this was previously not available. ‘Telstra does note that ADSL is a distance-based technology; if a customer lives beyond the reach of this technology we will not be able to provide them with an ADSL service.’