THE BYRON SHIRE
FESTIVAL PROGRAM
Volume 29 #37 Wednesday, February 25, 2015 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
CAB AUDIT
INSERTED IN THIS ISSUE
WA I S T D E E P I N T H E I N F O R M AT I O N F L O O D
Mungo spears Hula dancers Get surfing Home & Fifty shades Sport & Abbott’s gaffe in demand for charity garden of ridiculous Pin This Up – p35 – p20 – p14 – p10 – p12 – p8
Byron sidesteps Marcia’s wrath
If elected, NSW Labor will take plans for West Byron development back to the drawing board, according to its Ballina candidate Paul Spooner. Mr Spooner said Labor would terminate the State Environmental Planning Policy (West Byron Bay) 2014 that amended the 1988 Byron LEP so that the West Byron area sits within the 2014 Byron LEP. The desired effect of this is to rescind the recent rezoning of West Byron which enabled the go-ahead of the planned residential and commercial development of some 55 hectares on a 108ha site.
Bigger lot sizes
Tropical Cyclone Marcia had pretty much fizzled out by the time it hit Byron Shire, though the strong wind, flooding and coastal erosion were a timely reminder of the potential for harm. The huge falls of rain expected by last Friday night failed to eventuate though constant showers helped to soak most backyards. The minor flood warning for the Brunswick River was also a precautionary measure and little impact followed, with just a few road closures at creek crossings troubling the Shire. The Shire’s new weatherwoman Magdalena Roze told The Echo, ‘I’ve reported on many flooding events over the years but this is the first time that my own property was
under threat. Our road was cut off but it was great to see so many locals helping each other get through flooded causeways in appropriate 4WDs and the like. Plus it’s good to know the rain tank’s full!’ The State Emergency Service was on duty across the north coast just in case. SES spokesperson Phil Campbell said the damage caused by wind had been minor. ‘We have had strong winds up in northern NSW with some gusts up around 90 kilometres per hour at Cape Byron,’ he told ABC radio. ‘This has resulted in some minor property damage with some trees and branches down.’ According to Bureau of Meteorology data, for the week ending
February 22 the north coast including Byron Shire received around 150–200mm in rainfall, depending on location. The top fall for Mullumbimby was 100mm for the 24 hours to 9am on last Friday, while Byron Bay received 96mm in the same period. The Mullumbimby SES is now recruiting for new members in a range of positions, both indoors and outdoors. An information session is being held on Tuesday March 3 at 9am and Saturday March 7 at 12pm. Find out more on 0418 663 836.
Pages 33–34
Labor aims to ‘terminate’ West Byron plan Michael McDonald
Top, Police Rescue negotiates a Main Arm crossing, still from Sharon Shostak’s video; top right, the Channel 7 news team set up at Billinudgel, photo Jeff Dawson; above, Ukiah Truscott and Bodhi Jenas enjoy a bit of boarding in a paddock, still from Sharon Shostak’s video; and above right, a couple of likely lads tempt fate at Snapper Rocks on the Gold Coast, photo Jeff Dawson.
Byron Shire Council Notices
If the site sits within the 2014 Byron LEP, minimum lot sizes for low-density residential would go up from 450m2 to 650m2, and from 200m2 to 400m2 for mediumdensity residential. Labor would also commit to handing back the development and approval of any development
control plan for the site to Byron Shire Council. Mr Spooner said Labor would support the proposition that any new proposal must include traffic reduction strategies for Ewingsdale Road, include larger and fewer blocks, support low-cost housing and ensure the protection of Belongil Creek and the local koala populations.
‘We need to act’ ‘If I am elected to Parliament and Labor forms government, West Byron will not go ahead,’ Mr Spooner said. ‘The first conversation I had with [NSW opposition leader] Luke Foley was about the West Byron development and how we needed to act. ‘I want to see Byron Bay preserved, not wrecked. If this development proposal in its current form goes ahead, it would change life in our community forever. Local conservation activist Dailan Pugh and Cate Cooney of the continued on page 2
Q See Sharon Shostak’s video of
the flooding and the SES at work www.echo.net.au/flood-scouting
Cate Coorey, Paul Spooner and Dailan Pugh rip up the West Byron SEPP at the proposed development site.
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