THE BYRON SHIRE
s T N rs E LM rte O R ta N E 4s
Pages 14–15
Volume 28 #21 Tuesday, October 29, 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
AUDIT
Buck$ has a Council’s general manager Ken Gainger spray at holiday letting – p11 interviewed – p7
Bottleshop DA relinquished A bottleshop DA attached to the rejected Dan Murphy’s bid in Byron Bay has been exchanged for restaurant car parking according to mayor Simon Richardson. Last week, The Echo reported that a liquor bottleshop development application (DA) which was rejected by the Office of Gaming and Racing (OLGR) last year was again before Byron Shire Council. Cr Richardson told The Echo that car parking behind the Palace Cinema on Jonson Street was the only reason Council staff refused the current DA. ‘Negotiations with the developer, myself and staff have resulted in the bottleshop application being transferred to the restaurant DA as a liquor licence. ‘The developer has surrendered the car spaces within Dan Murphy’s DA and will use them for two restaurants in that location.’ The DA is yet to be debated by councillors but the mayor told The Echo the restaurants would be fine dining and ‘family friendly.’
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O N E C H O R D I S F I N E . T W O C H O R D S A R E P U S H I N G I T. T H R E E C H O R D S A N D Y O U ’ R E I N T O J A Z Z – R I P, L O U R E E D
CAB
Pugh tackles koala nonplanning – p13
Mullum Music Fest’s big night – p19
Best spot for a surf fest
Pages 24–25
Byron Shire Council Notices Page 40
United approach to alcohol-related crime established Hans Lovejoy
Now in its third year, the Byron Surf fest graced the beaches and shorelines of Byron last weekend. Coorganiser Mike Young told The Echo the event is about bringing surf culture and people together. ‘Whether it’s art, film photography, music… this is about anything surf related, except competition.‘ The weekend featured world-famous surfing legends such as Keith Malloy, as well as local legends Bob McTavish and Rusty Miller. For Sharon Shostak’s video, see www.echonetdaily.net.au. Photo Jeff ‘Hangin’ Eleven’ Dawson
A working group has formed after a recent meeting between Byron Bay’s stakeholders wanting to address alcohol-related crime. Held at Council’s chambers in Mullumbimby, it was chaired by mayor Simon Richardson and included representatives from Council, Byron United, Last Drinks at 12, VIA Byron, local police and hospitals, Byron Bay Liquor Accord, Byron Youth Service and Save our Night Life. Byron’s chamber of commerce (Byron United) president Paul Waters said the forum was a recommendation by his board to bring all stakeholders together and ‘begin a process by taking into account everyone’s position in the community.’ ‘It was very clear that we all want the same result, and it’s also clear that more needs to be done on the streets where most of the trouble occurs.’ Additionally he’s calling all CBD businesses to light up the continued on page 3
Bangalow residents ‘appalled’ at Council staff report to remove weir Recommendations by Council staff to remove the historic Bangalow weir on Byron Creek have riled residents who say their wishes to restore the structure have been ignored. The weir’s fate is due to be discussed at the upcoming Council meeting on Thursday October 31. ‘We are totally gobsmacked at this idea!’ said Bangalow Weir Group representative, Terry Bleakley. ‘After having so many meetings with Council, to have staff point blank deny the fact that our community simply does not want the weir wall removed, not to mention the reality of the cost of demolition, is incredible.
‘As we understood Council was strapped for cash, our team applied for funding under the Community Building Partnernships program which would fund the repair and stabilisation of the weir.’ He says the outcome will not be known until December. ‘We’ve managed to get outside contributions to fund a massive co-operative wetland project completed in the creekside park, plus get some great signs made. At no cost to Council, Baulderstone [construction company] freely contributed labour and equipment to construct a 110-metre path between the wetland and the creek, as well as contributing 14 two-tonne
rocks to form rock circles for the benefit of the community. A local engineer has volunteered yet another concept plan to repair the weir wall at considerable savings. And now we’ve applied for government funding to restore the weir. What’s Council done? Four reports over several years.’ Mr Bleakley says Council’s consultants, WBM, estimated earlier this year that removal costs would be ‘around $115,000’. ‘The Bangalow Weir Group’s highly credentialled civil engineer donated a concept plan to repair and stabilise the weir wall at a construction cost of less than $100,000. This was presented to Council for its consideration
on July 3, 2013. Now the latest staff report – the fourth Council has received on the topic in recent years – says there’s no money to pay to fix the wall, but there might be $60,000 in a ‘community infrastructure maintenance’ program to get rid of it. But – sorry – that wouldn’t cover repair of the wall.’ But Council’s executive manager of infrastructure Phil Holloway says the recommendation to remove the weir was ‘based on a responsible decision that Council does not currently have the funds to repair the wall and retain the weir.’ continued on page 3