THE BYRON SHIRE Volume 24 #49 Tuesday, May 18, 2010
EN
G RE
Mullumbimby 02 6684 1777 Byron Bay 02 6685 5222 Fax 02 6684 1719 editor@echo.net.au adcopy@echo.net.au www.echo.net.au 21,000 copies every week
S C EN E
PAGE 24
S P O O N AT T H E R E A D Y
Carters out in force for derby
The squeal of the axles, the roar of the crowd. Two hundred and fifty carters took part last Sunday in the popular annual Bangalow Billycart Derby, wowing onlookers with thrills and spills, especially 11-year-old Emilio Jimenez-Swain of Newrybar, who slid over the line upside down to take out the inter-school challenge for the second year running. See many more photos in the Echo Stuff gallery on www.offmyfacebook.com.au and a video of the event at www. bangalowbillycart.com.au. Photo Jeff ‘I Meant To Fly Around The World But Skated Around The Block’ Dawson
Celebrate biodiversity Byron Shire Council is calling on residents to celebrate the International Year of Biodiversity with a series of free seminars. Open to everyone, the first seminar will be held on Tuesday 25 May from 7pm to 8.30pm at the Council chambers in Mullumbimby and feature biodiversity in Byron Shire and how people can play an active role. Council’s biodiversity extension officer Wendy Neilan said the seminar is an opportunity to see why the things we enjoy about living in the Shire are inextricably linked to biodiversity. ‘The region in which we live is a nationally significant region for biodiversity,’ she said. ‘It’s comparable to the south-west of Western Australia and the wet tropics of North Queensland. ‘The evening will focus on Council programs and the actions it is taking to help conserve biodiversity. Natural resources staff will discuss Council initiatives funded under the environmental levy including Land for Wildlife, bush regeneration on Council lands, cane toads, Mitchell Rainforest Snail and Bush Future Projects. Ms Neilan said the shire’s forested hinterland is an essential link to the water catchments and habitat for hundreds of species of plants and animals. ‘The Byron region is beautiful because of its diversity. ‘Not just people, but the diversity of animals and plants.’ Q Biodiversity comment, page 12
Council to seek ecologists’ input to draft Local Environmental Plan Eve Jeffery
Last week Byron Shire councillors voted 6-3 to invite the Conservation Ecologists Association to make a written submission and oral presentation to councillors and council staff on important environmental attributes in the Biodiversity Conservation Strategy, so that they might be considered in the draft Local Environmental Plan (LEP) currently under preparation.
7
The question of the inclusion of local activist Dailan Pugh met with some vague grumbling but it was decided that, though not technically qualified, Mr Pugh had information that would be valuable input. Cr Diane Woods asked about the effect this would have on the timeframe of the draft LEP. Council’s executive manager environment and planning Ray Darney said he believed the workshop would delay the LEP up to
two months, a point which Cr Woods suggested was yet another delay to a process that was already taking too long, hampering the intention to have the draft completed by the end of the current Council’s term. Cr Woods said she felt embarrassed that the draft was taking so long. She suggested that getting the document to the point of applying for the Section 65 Certificate from the state government would enable the plan to go
on public exhibition, at which time submissions could be made to suggest change. Mayor Jan Barham said she felt as Council had made a priority commitment to biodiversity, it was wise to have the workshop. ‘The LEP is a very complex instrument,’ she said. ‘It is only by working on it constantly that you can have an understanding of it. It is a multifaceted complex process with many layers. We need to deliver
the best possible draft.’ Ms Barham said that as the expert advice was free, a community service, then Council would be wise to listen. The meeting also decided to invite the Environmental Defenders Officer Northern Rivers to present their legal assessment of the Standard Instrument LEP format and provide information regarding other NR LEP assessments. Q Letters, page 14
days of health & fitness for
f ree!
Come and see our newly renovated health and fitness club. Call 6685 5640.
Bring this ad with you for your 7 days free membership. 108 Bangalow Rd. cnr Blackbutt Place. www.heartandsoulhealthclubs.com.au *Conditions Apply - Must be over 18, First time users only. dcb adv HS 0001 <echowebsection=Local News>
B Y R O N
B A Y