The Byron Shire Echo – Issue 38.25 – November 29, 2023

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Issu e #5 Sum mer 202 3

L I V E S O T H AT I F Y O U R L I F E W A S A B O O K , F LO R I D A W O U L D B A N I T The Byron Shire Echo • Volume 38 #25 • November 29, 2023 • www.echo.net.au

New wave of antisocial behaviour hits SGB Paul Bibby Drug use, fights, vandalism, destruction of property, and violent intimidation of locals sitting in their homes. Welcome to Friday and Saturday nights in the centre of South Golden Beach (SGB). Such activities have become a regular occurrence in the oncequiet village, according to a local resident who addressed Byron Shire Council last week. Backed by a 50-signature petition signed by some of his fellow residents, Trenton Jamieson said there had been a huge increase in youth crime and antisocial behaviour in the town. He and other residents are calling for increased action from police and the Council to help make SGB safe again, including regular security patrols. During the same meeting, Council passed a motion to support local police in facilitating a public meeting in the town to discuss the issues, and investigate the cost and merits of installing CCTV and improved lighting at appropriate locations in the town. ‘Every weekend or every other weekend, we have to deal with kids partying, fighting, bottles being smashed, property being destroyed and stolen, the playground being trashed…’ Mr Jamieson told last week’s Council meeting, as more than a dozen of his fellow residents looked on. ‘Every weekend, we’re cleaning up the gardens, cleaning up the hall… we’re finding things like this – this is the kind of flick knife that

Teens call for housing support, better transport ▶ p4

Eat Drink Magazine issue #5

Protecting what’s left

kids are carrying around with them at the moment…’ Among the more concerning recent incidents described by Mr Jamieson were an alleged rape in a local park, a 14-year-old girl overdosing on ketamine, and a group of youths banging on the doors and windows of a home while a single mother sat inside with her kids.

¨ĕĕŕƆ ĎſşżżĕĎ şǔ ćƷ parents on weekends The meeting heard that the violent and antisocial behaviour was not primarily the work of young people from South Golden Beach, but teens from surrounding areas who were being dropped off by their parents. The area around the town’s skate park had become ‘the place to be’ on Friday and Saturday nights, drawing kids from as far afield as the Gold Coast. Mr Jamieson said residents were not satisfied with the police response to the issue. ‘They explain that they can’t do anything because of the children’s ages,’ Mr Jamieson told the meeting. ‘They even go as far as saying that maybe we should take matters into our own hands. ‘At times when police attend after being called repeatedly, they don’t even bother to get out of their cars. They simply drive down Redgate Road with their lights on to give the kids ample warning to get out of the way.’ ‘It’s not acceptable.’ Residents are asking for increased state government funding ▶ Continued on page 3

Members of the ‘Save Wallum’ group rallied outside last week’s Byron Council meeting to demand the preservation of precious native habitat on the edge of Brunswick Heads that is slated for development. And there was a whisker of good news for their campaign at the meeting, with Mayor Michael Lyon stating that the developer, the Clarence Property Group, has promised not to do any further slashing on the fragile site until at least December 7. Photo Jeff ‘Protesting Something Or Other Since 1986’ Dawson

Fire ants found in Tweed Shire The NSW Labor government has introduced an emergency biosecurity exclusion zone in the Tweed Shire, after the discovery that a fire ant colony had crossed the NSW/ Qld border. The exclusion zone applies to a five-kilometre radius from a Council-owned vacant block in the new industrial estate at Quarry Road, South Murwillumbah, where the ants were reported.

Banned materials Residents and businesses included in the zone are banned from trading, or moving any of the

Community rallies for Tim Hanley’s recovery ▶ p5

same products that have been banned from being brought into NSW from Qld for months. Those products are all earthrelated and include mulch, woodchips, compost, sand, gravel, soil, hay and other baled products, as well as pot plants and quarry materials. The NSW government introduced the restrictions after Qld authorities confirmed fire ants had been found as far south as Tallebudgera on the Gold Coast, close to the NSW border. People in the Tweed Shire are being asked to be vigilant in

Letters to the ed? Yes! They still exist in ink on paper ▶ p9

checking properties for red ants, with the insects known to spread very quickly and cause mass destruction, mostly in environmental terms and in impacts on farming businesses. Anyone who suspects fire ants on their property is being urged not to disturb the nest but to report the activity to the NSW DPI by calling 1800 680 244 or visiting dpi.nsw.gov.au/biosecurity/ forms/report-exotic-ants. Q More detail on the National Fire Ant Eradication Program can be found online at www.fireants.org.au.

Winners are grinners and shopping local is the best ▶ p16

’Tis the season to get festive ▶ p18

Mingle all the way... Christmas in Forest. Gather around and celebrate the silly season at Forest Byron Bay. During the month of December, groups of 10 or more can enjoy a ė ͨ;Ø ÝͶͥͨÂaͨͥ~ Ð tđaͨ ėͥæͶđͥÐæ~aÐͥ­ađØ đė ͥ¸đæΠ đė ͥaÝ ͥađͨÅėaÝėÿͥ HÅͨͥ æΠÝͥͨæͥaͥÐaΝÅėÂͥėÂađ ğėͨ΢Ð ͥͨΠæğ~æͶđė ͥ­ ėͨÅΝ ͥ­ aėͨqͥėͨađͨÅݸͥaͨͥ ¯ͥ ù đͥù đėæÝÿͥ8Ýͥ ÂđÅėͨØaėͥ a΢ ͥ!æđ ėͨͥΠÅÐÐͥæù ÝͥͨæͥaÐÐͥ­æđͥæͶđͥ­aØæͶėͥ ÐͶΡ ͥė a­ææ ͥtͶ­­ ͨÿͥ ÝÎæ΢ͥaÝͥÅÝ Ͷи Ýͨ ͥėæ~ÅaÐ ͥaÝ ͥ ÅėͨÅÝ~ͨÐ΢ͥ­ ėͨÅΝ ͥ buffet featuring the best local seafood and traditional Christmas fare. WÅėÅͨ; crystalbrookcollection.com/byron/special-offers/christmas to learn more. *Option to upgrade to a three-course menu. Subject to availability. Cancellation policies apply.


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