THE BYRON SHIRE Volume 28 #30 Tuesday, January 7, 2014 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
health & beauty
CAB AUDIT
p16–17
THE OLDER I GET THE BET TER I USED TO BE
Political Inside West Byron overwhelming dinosaur of this – p7 the week – p10 week
The wall in Palestine and Israel – p14
Making the most of summer holidays – p18–20
Falls fest welcomes zombies
Mi-Sex-ing it up at the bowlo – p21
Byron Shire Council Notices Page 40
Pirate ship under attack North Coast Holiday Parks wants Brunswick Buccaneer evicted Hans Lovejoy
The roaming deceased effortlessly assimilated with the boisterous (mostly) young crowd at Falls Festival, held in Yelgun over New Years. Photo Jeff Dawson – see more photos on page 15
A parting gift of rain settled some of the dust at the final day of the Falls Music and Arts Festival at Yelgun. Organisers say 15,000 patrons attended the three day event, of which 13,500 were also campers onsite. But it wasn’t just the headliners
that featured; roving entertainers as well as artists created an artistic, colourful oasis in the village area, which included workshops.
Police praise Police also praised the general
behaviour of festival-goers: Tweed inspector Greg Jago told The Echo there was a only a small number of drug detections. Ending the first Byron Falls festival were The Violent Femmes, followed by Neil Finn, The Wombats and MGMT.
For 30 years, Brunswick Buccaneers has been an icon of Brunswick Heads, but now the tourist attraction is under threat from NSW government bureaucrats. An eviction notice was served ‘without warning’ last Easter by Colin Woodbry from North Coast Holiday Parks (NCHP) to operator Ilan Schnitzler, who has for the last 15 years hired boats, kayaks, canoes and paddle boards from his pirate ship on the river opposite the pub. Additionally, The Echo has learned that NSW Crown Lands employee Nessbit Hurcum has hand-balled responsibility of the surrounding parks and waterways to NCHP and
is ‘reluctant to go against the recommendations’ of its Trust manager and former Byron Shire Council employee, Jim Bolger. In a startling reply to Echo inquiries, Mr Bolger refused to explain his decision to evict Mr Schnitzler and, like NCHP’s financial records, his actions remain cloaked in secrecy. Mr Bolger told The Echo, ‘The Trust will not take part in discussing licence or legal issues through the media.’
Another PR blunder It’s the latest public relations blunder and take-over bid by the state government-owned and privately run corporation; three Brunswick Heads caravan parks and foreshore continued on page 2
Nightclub engulfed by flames Byron Bay nightclub La La Land was gutted by fire Saturday night, forcing the evacuation of around 20 patrons. The fire started about 9.15pm in the roof of the building and quickly spread, eventually closing Lawson Street outside the club as fire crews extinguished the fire and ensured
other surrounding buildings were safe. The street was reopened Sunday morning. Locals say it’s the second fire in ten years to have hit the nightclub. There were no reported injuries from the fire but major damage was
caused to the nightclub and its contents through the fire, smoke and water. Fire crews were on watch at the premises Sunday morning as the fire was still smouldering. Police will prepare a brief for the Coroner due to the amount of damage.
Bruns pirate ship operator Ilan Schnitzler has been given an eviction notice but says he is prepared for the fight. Photo Eve Jeffery