Byron
Shire Echo June 8, 5Local NewsByron joins Seachange councils fightLesley PattersonWhen byron bay
wanted to introduce a bed tax, the government told Byron Shire Council it wasnt on. Now other councils are banding together to lobby state and federal governments for funding to help them cope with high population growth. Last week, Byron Shire Councils general manager and mayor joined representatives from coastal councils throughout Australia to talk about the problems of the Seachange phenomenon and the rise in tourism. Byron Bay is not the only Pearl Bay in Australia the combined population of Seachange councils is currently estimated at 4.5 million, more than of Australias population. Noosa, Margaret River, Coffs Harbour and Mornington Peninsula Councils were among those represented at last weeks summit in Melbourne.The movement of population to the coast will continue for at least the next years and will create enormous demand for essential infrastructure such as roads, water sewerage, and services such as public transport, health care, police and emergency services and education facilities, explains a report from the first Seachange conference in Maroochydore in February. Recent figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics show that the number of people moving to coastal areas increased by 7 compared to the previous year. A new national strategy for managing Seachange growth is being prepared by a taskforce of general managers and mayors from the councils, including Byron Shires Pamela Westing and Jan Barham. There is an urgent need to find a funding formula which meets the increasing de-mands being placed on coastal communities and their councils, according to Brian Haratsis, a Melbourne economist and planner, who attended the latest conference in Melbourne. Not only are these communities having to cope with unprecedented levels of population growth, they are also attempting to deal with the growing impact of tourism, Mr Haratsis said. Tourism is set to become Australias major export earner within the next four years and is expected to increase by by the year . This is having a devastating effect on coastal areas such as Lorne, the Sunshine Coast and Byron Bay, which do not receive the funding necessary to cope with the pressures being placed on them. Mr Haratsis proposed several measures to meet the current infrastructure shortfall including an internationalvisitors levy through the federal government and a domestic tourism levy through state governments. This type of funding is essential if local councils are to protect the natural environment and tourism icons such as Fraser Island, the Otways in Victoria and the Barrier Reef, he said. The current method of funding infrastructure for coastal areas is a dogs breakfast and is entirely inadequate. Convenor of the Seachange Taskforce, Kelvin Spiller, said that another million people are expected to move to the coast over the next ten to years. Unlike councils in designated growth areas, such as Melton in Victoria and Campbelltown in NSW, coastal councils do not have the infrastructure or services that a rapidly expanding population needs, Mr Spiller said.The most cost effective way to move waterThe new Blazemaster twin high pressure m head Fire FighterMax m head Max Lmin GX Honda Enginefrom onlyNew improved onga single stage Fire FighterKnives out at Ocean ShoresFrom front pageDahlsen off to AthensNormally Now onlysave Hurry d Limite stockclub movement that defeated candidates subsequently seek to stir up discontent within the organisation and to unsettle the administration, said Mr Dawson. In this case the timing of the intervention is quite extraordinary in that it has caused the club to incur the expense, and its members to suffer the inconvenience, of another general meeting only two months before the clubs normal AGM, when in any event the members would have the opportunity to elect a new board of their choice, he added. I suspect that the real motive is to create maximum embarrassment for the club in relation to its appeal against the severity of the , fine imposed last year by the Licensing Court for breaches of the Liquor Act at a staff Christmas func-tion in December , following which a young kitchenhand died in a tragic accident. Although not a member of the board at the time of the incident, I have been chosen to represent the club at the appeal hearing in Sydney on July 7 in order to testify as to the clubs financial situation and in relation to action taken subsequent to the magistrates findings, Mr Dawson said. Mr Dawson contacted The Echo on Monday to ask members to confirm the date of the Extraordinary General Meeting as the previous date of July 7 was now in doubt.Onga Pool Pumps PPPByron based assemblage and environmental artist John Dahlsen had barely drawn breath from arriving back in Australia after a 4 week jaunt in Europe, which included a major exhibition of his work at the DArs Studio Contemporary Art Space, Milano, when he received the phone call to inform him that he was one of four Australian artists chosen to exhibit in conjunction with the Olympics of Visual Arts in Athens. Dahlsen said he was suitably delighted with the announcement, not only from the honour and kudos attached to it, but because the selection to exhibit comes with an all expenses paid 3 day return trip to Athens for the opening ceremony. Dahlsen is one of the guest artists speaking at Hours of Visual Arts at the Byron Bay Community Centre on July 3 and 4. More at www. tikitiboo.com.au.Premium Filtration for the whole house or just the kitchenCraft expoMullumbimby Public School will hold their craft expo at Mullumbimby High School Auditorium on June , am to 4pm, 3 admission.Onga VIP VortMax 6m head Max Lmin SpecialPresent this voucher forPresent this voucher forTHE GINGER NECKTAR DRINK COMPANY5 OFF 5 FREEANY MAIN MEALMon Thurs onlyone voucher per mealvalid until 3 save RAFFLE TICKETSBuy 5 worth of rafe tickets, Get 5 worth absolutly FREE6pm FRIDAY NIGHT MONSTER RAFFLESvalid until 3PUBCARD DRAW TUES FRI SUFFOLK PARKWinter time Time For Ginger NecKtarAvailable throughout the Shire.Pump Shop Dalley StMULLUMBIMBYIts all there at
