THE BYRON SHIRE Volume 28 #51 Tuesday, June 3, 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
Inside this week
World Environment Day 5 June Pages 15-17
T H E S E PA G E S M AY H AV E I S S U E S
CAB AUDIT
The five stages of budget grief: Mungo – p10
Snap budget rally next week – p5
Cr Wanchap & West Byron – p11
Health & Mary’s backswamps Beauty – p14 story – p13
Byron Shire Council Notices Page 37
A big week of reconciliation OS Tavern robbed by
machete-wielding thief Eve Jeffery
Held every year between May 27 and June 3, Reconciliation Week marks the anniversaries of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders being recognised in the census, and recognition of Native Title. Arakwal woman Delta Kay joined Bronwyn Sindel from the Sisters for Reconciliation stall at Byron Market on Sunday to celebrate the occasion. Photo Eve Jeffery.
The Ocean Shores Tavern on Rajah Road was hit by an armed robber on Sunday evening as staff were preparing to close up for the night. The police report says a man armed with a machete forced entry into the premises around 9.30pm and threatened two staff members with the weapon. The Tavern’s Kim Dowling spoke to The Echo on Monday morning and said that everyone involved was okay. ‘There was a male and female staff member working at the time’, said Kim. ‘There were no patrons and not even a car in the carpark.’ Once inside the premises, the perpetrator tied staff up, before fleeing the location with cash. Officers from Tweed/Byron Local Area Command launched an investigation into the incident and specialist police from the Dog Unit
assisted in an extensive search of the surrounding area; however, the man was not found. A crime scene was established and examined by detectives and specialist forensic officers. The man is described as having a dark complexion, about 185cm tall and of a solid build. He was last seen wearing a dark-coloured hooded jumper, dark track pants with white stripes down the sides and a black bandana across his face. Ms Dowling said, ‘Everyone’s fine. The staff handled it really well’. She added that the tavern’s security has meant that a lot of evidence was available to catch the perpetrator. ‘We have handed it all over to the police’, she said. ‘It’s all on CCTV – hopefully the police can track him down.’ Police are urging anyone with information about this incident to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or the online reporting page: www1.police.nsw.gov.au.
Sydney developer buys into West Byron Hans Lovejoy
Prominent Sydney CBD property developer Terry Agnew has bought a sizeable portion of the West Byron project, prompting claims by the Byron Residents Group that the ‘locallyowned’ aspect of the development now has little relevance. Approval for the West Byron project, a 108hectare housing/commercial estate situated opposite the industrial estate on Ewingsdale Road, is expected shortly from the state government. Agnew, who heads Tower Holdings with a swag of properties, also owns a Great Keppel Island resort, where a $2.5 billion redevelop-
ment is planned. Tower Holdings bought the resort for $16.5 million in 2008 before shutting it down and unveiling ambitious plans for a luxury resort. And while his plans were thwarted by environmental concerns such as illegal tree clearing, last year he finally gained approval for a reduced 250-berth marina precinct, 750 resort villas and 300 apartments, a hotel and an 18hole golf course. The Echo sought comment from Mr Agnew’s office, but as yet there has been none. But through communications consultancy company Charliesierra, the West Byron landowners confirmed the purchase with The Echo but played down any negative influence the
new co-owner may have. ‘Tower Holdings has joined the landowner group after purchasing Crighton’s holdings earlier this year,’ they said.
‘Committed to a vibrant community’ but no comment on price paid ‘The entire landowner group, including Tower Holdings, is committed to making West Byron a vibrant community that integrates with the social fabric of the Byron area.’ And while the West Byron group won’t comment on the price paid or the size of land Mr Agnew’s company now owns, title search-
es by a solicitor on behalf of environmental activist Dailan Pugh put the figure at $7 million and around half the entire property. Mr Pugh told The Echo that Crighton Properties’ liquidators sold the half-share of West Byron to North Sydney Property Trust (NSPT Pty Ltd) after Crighton went bust in April last year. He told The Echo that Agnew’s subsidiary NSPT, ‘paid $7,000,000 for the [West Byron] land, as per the land titles office registered transfer. The directors of NSPT are a Terrance John Agnew of Bellevue Hill NSW and Timothy Stringer of Drummoyne NSW.’ Pugh believes that Agnew is now the continued on page 3