THE BYRON SHIRE Volume 25 #15 Tuesday, September 14, 2010
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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
O N LY U S E R S L O S E D R U G S
Best orchids in show
Bruns land swap deal in lobby group’s sights Lobby group Brunswick Foreshore Protection Group (BFPG) has lodged a formal complaint with Byron Shire Council and the NSW Land & Property Management Authority (LPMA) over negotiations on a $4 million land swap of road reserve lands in Brunswick Heads. In addition, a ‘Reclaim the Foreshore’ rally is being organised to highlight the problems with the LPMA’s plans for the crown reserve parks. Everyone is encouraged to meet at the pedestrian bridge next to Terrace Park at 10.30am on Sunday September 19.
Acquiring five sites
Byron District Orchid Society president Penny Fox said she couldn’t get enough of the show’s beautiful blooms Story & photo Eve Jeffery
The wonderful aroma hit visitors as soon as they walked through the doors of the Mullumbimby Services Club and became the fragrant calling card of the 55th annual Byron District Orchid Show. Former Brunswick Valley resident Graham Little won Champion Orchid at this year’s event. Chuffed by his win, Graham says he travels from Toowoomba each year to exhibit his plants and meet up with longstanding friends. ‘It’s well worth the trip,’ says Graham. ‘I laugh more in the
two days I am here at the show than I do the rest of the year in Toowoomba.’ The Reserve Champion Orchid was grown by Laurie Mills, a resident of Brunswick Heads. Also at the prize giving-presentation, the club honoured past president Ron Hutchinson with a life membership and medallions to Ron and Betty Hutchinson, Arthur Winter, Val and Graham Little, Daphne and Harry Jenkins, Ben and Pauline McClymont, Daisy Dare and the late Allan Dare and June Sheaffe and the late Percy Sheaffe as a sign of appreciation for many years help and support.
Elliot ‘steps down’ to Trade with pay cut Hans Lovejoy
Richmond MP Justine Elliot has stepped down as Minister for Ageing, and will now be Parliamentary Secretary for Trade. The position was announced on the weekend as part of Gillard’s new cabinet reshuffle. With the new position comes much less pay. According to www.polliespay. greens.org.au her income would have been as MP $244,388 per year, yet her new job as Parliamentary Secretary
for trade is estimated at $195,800 pa. Asked why she choose to take a $50,000 paycut, she responded by saying she wants to spend more time in the electorate. ‘The decision to step down was not about the money,’ she told The Echo. ‘I requested a new challenge, and it was very much a voluntarily move,’ she added.
ister for Ageing, she said ‘Compliance and regulation reforms in nursing homes. We also put 100 million towards schools. I am very proud of what we have done so far. ‘My heart is in Richmond’, she said, ‘and this new position means I can be more available in the local area. ‘I will always be a strong voice for the area, and for regional Australia.’ Achievements as MP Ms Elliot says her new role will help When asked of her stand-out local business owners who export achievements in her portfolio as Min- overseas.
According to BFPG, LPMA wants to compulsorily acquire five different sites, including Ferry Reserve Foreshore along Riverside Crescent, the adjoining Old Fins building and ex Pacific highway roadway, and road reserve land alongside The Terrace and Massey Greene Caravan Parks. The group says over 20,000 square metres of prime foreshore land valued at $3.8 million will be resumed for inclusion within the operational area of Brunswick Heads Crown Reserve Caravan Parks. In exchange for Brunswick road reserve land Council will acquire LPMA’s land around Byron Swimming Pool and Suffolk Park Caravan Park valued at $3.9 million.
No consultation ‘These negotiations are almost complete yet at no time have local residents, neighbours or other stakeholders been informed or consulted about the proposed closure and “sale” of the streets they actually live in,’ said BFPG spokesperson Michele Grant. ‘It is a non-transparent, non-inclusive process. ‘Council must reconsider the offer made to LPMA and ensure vital and achievable community-preferred options are part of the negotiations before any final landswap occurs. ‘The maps LPMA supplied to
Council are misleading, and suggest there is 60m-100m of land between the riverbank and road boundary. In fact the narrow strip along the Terrace is between 30m-50m wide. ‘The diagrams in the Plans of Management for The Terrace and Massey Greene Caravan Parks are vague. Unlabelled concept drawings and artist’s impressions and are not acceptable.
LPMA reluctant to produce maps ‘For over ten years we’ve been debating boundary encroachments, buffer zones and setback requirements, foreshore access, redevelopment and compliance issues within all three Brunswick Heads crown reserve caravan parks. ‘Throughout this process DOL/LPMA’s management team has been reluctant to produce accurate, detailed maps that are properly surveyed and labelled with the specific information all developers would be expected to submit when seeking boundary adjustments to expand and redevelop public reserves. ‘The Brunswick Heads community expects LPMA’s new plans of management to reflect best practice and exhibit the highest standards in the management and redevelopment of our crown reserve foreshore parklands. ‘Our community has seen none of the park profits spent on our public parks, and the draft POM again fail to address ongoing access, parking and traffic problems endured by neighbours.
Under Council radar ‘It is outrageous Byron Council has let this slip under the radar and are about to sign off on what is a very shabby and dodgy deal.’ At Council’s meeting last Thursday Cr Tom Tabart was successful with a motion to make a written submission to the LPMA outlining concerns
enrich your spirit
www.crystalcastle.com.au Open 7 Days 10am-5pm (NSW time) 81 Monet Drive, Mullumbimby 40 mins from Tweed Heads 20 mins from Byron Bay (02) 6684 3111
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