THE BYRON SHIRE Volume 30 #19 Wednesday, October 21, 2015
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CCTV by Christmas Chris Dobney
CCTV cameras are moving closer to being installed in 28 locations in Byron’s CBD, council have announced. It’s part of a strategy to make the streets safer by reducing drunken and antisocial behaviour. Opponents have objected on privacy grounds, but Council’s chief concern had been over who would cop the costs for installing and maintaining the service. Now council has received federal funding for the cameras. The cameras are being installed in locations from Apex Park at the beachfront, down Jonson Street to Railway Park and the transport hub (ending at Marvell Street). Installation will start this week and council advises there may be ‘minor disruptions to pedestrians and car parking as installers move along the street installing cabling.’ Council’s director of corporate management and community services, Mark Arnold said the Australian government funding for the cameras and lighting was provided ‘to help improve public safety in identified hot spots and address antisocial and unlawful behaviour.’ ‘The program builds on recent lighting upgrades in Apex and Railway Parks, around the Byron Bay Taxi rank and includes additional lighting on the corner of Bay and Jonson Streets,’ he said. Mr Arnold added the camera locations have been based on crime statistics provided by NSW Police and continued on page 2
Determined to run on renewables
Tristan Shelley painted his vision for renewable energy at the COREM event, held at Mullum’s Civic Hall on Sunday. The work has been uploaded as a timelapse video linked to the COREM website. Photo Jeff Dawson
Mullum’s 100-year-old Drill Hall Theatre is one step closer to getting solar power, thanks to the generous donations that totalled over $4,000 from the community who attended the COREM event on Sunday. COREM stands for Community
Owned Renewable Energy Mullumbimby, and is a ‘not-for-profit community action group’ aiming to move Mullum into a renewable future. Apart from performers, food and artistry, there was a big picture panel, who explained what is hap-
pening globally with renewable energy and in particular, community-owned projects. A post-launch public meeting will be held from 6.30pm to 8.30pm, Thursday October 29 at Mullum Ex-Services Club. For more visit www.corem.org.au.
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Region’s first seed library breaks new ground www.echo.net.au/regions-firstseed-library-breaks-new-ground
Mining licence bought back Another one down – three to go. The government buy back of one of four remaining northern rivers petroleum exploration licences (PELs) was welcomed by all sides of politics on Monday, and was announced by member for Lismore, Thomas George (Nationals). PEL 445 covers a massive area around Kyogle, Lismore, Nimbin and Evans Head and was owned by Dart Energy, a subsidiary of UKbased giant IGas Energy. Sources have told The Echo that the cost to the government was $1 million. Mr George said, ‘The NSW Liberals and Nationals government has removed a further 565,693 hectares of the northern rivers from Labor’s coal seam gas footprint, by delivering on the NSW Nationals’ election commitment to buy back PEL 445.’ Elly Bird from Gasfield Free Northern Rivers said, ‘We would like to take this opportunity to thank Thomas George and [NSW Energy Minister] Anthony Roberts for their efforts and for delivering continued on page 2
Minister mute over Mullum Hospital land grab Hans Lovejoy
NSW Health Minister Jillian Skinner’s office has declined to comment over whether she supports a valuable piece of real estate being returned to the community after it was secretly transferred to her department in 2010. The Echo previously reported that records indicate that 115 years ago, a resident gifted the Mullum Hospital
land to be always used as a health facility, and ever since, other community members have donated to building extensions and medical equipment. Instead, Ms Skinner’s office referred the question to the Northern NSW Local Health District, and its outgoing chief executive, Chris Crawford. Mr Crawford told The Echo, ‘Currently, no final decision has been made on the future of the
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Mullumbimby Hospital site. In due course there will be community consultation regarding the future of the site. The first priority once the site becomes vacant will be the remediation and rehabilitation of the land to remove all asbestos that is currently present. If a decision is made to sell the site, the first call on any funds raised will be to pay for the remediation of the site.’
The Mullumbimby Hospital Action Group say that in January this year, Ms Skinner advised now-retired MP Don Page in a letter, ‘The Department of Health intends to sell the site with the proceeds used to offset the cost of remediation.’ The group are calling for the land to be used for aged-care facilities, disability housing and for women escaping domestic violence.
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