THE BYRON SHIRE
ENTERTAINMENT MUSIC CULTURE INTERVIEWS GIG GUIDE CINEMA
Volume 29 #11 Tuesday, August 26, 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
CAB AUDIT
‘ F O S S I L F U E L S A R E T H E F U T U R E ’ S AY S G I A N T L I Z A R D - L I K E BEAST DRESSED IN BUSINESS SUIT FROM THE DEPTHS OF HELL
Inside Breaking the political apathy: Ballina march this August 31 – p7 week
The world Pointed according to Wayne Missives Swan – p9 – p11–14
Home & Garden – p15
Kickers and chuckers – p40
PAGES 21-28
Byron Shire Council Notices Page 38–39
Robert Badalotti aims for ‘most sustainable retail development in Australia’ Electric vehicle charging facilities, grey-water systems and solar panels are just a few of the proposed features for Byron Bay’s Jonson Street cinema and shopping complex redevelopment. It’s a major turn-around for Azzura International Constructions, headed by QLD-based developer Robert Badalotti. Residents, with the help of some councillors, previously fought off plans for a large-scale Dan Murphy’s and a KFC on his property, located at the southern end of the Woolies plaza. And the last plans submitted for the redevelopment of the entire site also caused concerns for not keeping with the town’s character. But project manager Julie Nutting says they are now aiming to create ‘the most environmentally sustainable retail development in Australia.’ ‘We have consulted extensively with Byron Council and the Northern Rivers Design Advisory Panel members to develop a design that we hope Byron can embrace,’ Ms Nutting said. ‘It has been a great experience and the input from the Design Advisory Panel has been integral to the development of plans that can truly reflect the Byron Bay character,’ she said. While Council’s public submissions recently closed for the Mercato on Byron proposal, Ms Nutting says community feedback is still welcome at www.mercatoonbyron.com.au and they are keen to engage with the community on the development. The proposal would see a major facelift for the area, and includes
eight cinemas, a bowling alley, a 180m2 central art gallery, a ‘park style’ external meeting place and visual/performing arts area, 324 undercover car parks over two levels and 104 bicycle parking spaces. A subtropical design is a complete overhaul of an earlier scheme for the site, says Ms Nutting, and ‘comes in response to community feedback and extensive consultation, including a full-day design charette.’ Ms Nutting says they are aiming for a ‘family friendly community recreation venue, not just a retail space.’ The street frontage will receive ‘a significant makeover,’ she says, ‘with plans for 50 new trees and new planter boxes creating a green boulevard and entry park.’ ‘The planting and planned public art will make a significant improvement to Jonson Street’s amenity and we are seeking further community feedback in relation to the art opportunities,’ Ms Nutting said. Ms Nutting says Azzura would be commissioning local artists to create artwork ‘across the development which reflects the Byron Bay culture, creating a sense of vibrancy, fun, relaxation and understated coastal coolness.’ ‘We’re looking for works to be integrated into seats, pavements and feature walls, and for a feature piece on the Jonson Street frontage,’ she said. While parking will be metered, it will be free for the first two hours, she says. ‘This is designed to limit long-term parking and ensure there are convenient spaces for visitors to the centre and broader precinct.’
…buskers line up Year 8 students Chloe and Ben are two young buskers who will be competing for Mullum’s Steiner School’s inaugural Spring Fair Busking Competition. It’s part of the school’s annual Spring Fair, ‘Threads of Life’, which takes place on Saturday, September 6 from 10am. The comp is open to high school students from across the region and will take place from 1pm. Rules and registration details can be found on the Shearwater website at www.shearwater.nsw.edu.au/school-announcements or by calling the school on 6684 3223. Photo Eve Jeffery
All north coast councils now reject gas mining Richmond Valley Council Shire (RVC) has now joined every other north coast council in opposing unconventional gas mining and fracking in their region. Applause erupted from a packed gallery at last week’s RVC meeting after councillors passed the motion (mayor Ernie Bennett and Cr Col Sullivan voted against). The turnaround in Council’s stand on gas mining is significant, given Richmond Council previously threatened Bentley blockade protesters with illegal camping. Much of the push against protesters came from RVC’s general manager John Walker. But a June meeting saw unanimous support for Council to review the policy.
Recently the community of Codrington celebrated a survey which saw 93 per cent vote to remain gasfield free. In related news, the state government is reportedly negotiating with Metgasco over a possible compensation payout following the suspension of Metgasco’s Bentley drilling licence, near Lismore. Also, Tweed Shire Councillors voted last week 5–1 (Cr Youngblutt against) to install CSG-Free signs on existing entry and locality signs around Tweed. And this Sunday, residents of Hayters Hill, Coopers Shoot and surrounds will gather to celebrate their gasfield survey completion. This will mark the completion of all gasfield free surveys in the Byron Shire.