Maggie Brown, Byron Bay
Many thanks to Dialan Pugh and Jim Beatson for drawing attention to the recent Byron Tallow Beach Estuary doof party and the environmental and safety hazards these illegal gatherings represent.
As a rate-paying resident/citizen I find it unacceptable that it takes police 12 hours to respond to a situation where you have upwards of 400 people lighting fires and using fire-sticks (in a total fire ban period ) intoxicated and without any toilet facilities, cutting down fences , trampling over sensitive breeding sites and keeping households awake for 12 hours with loud music. BTW, Is anyone totting up the costs of the rubbish clean ups to our ratepayers? Are there no sanctions in place?
This is not something we can be apathetic about! One spark into the dry undergrowth would have had a catastrophic impact on humans and wildlife and it is not an ongoing risk that should be tolerated. If we cannot count on a timely response by existing services; it seems to me that what is required is some community action and an inter service approach to this problem that is now becoming a serious menace across Byron shire.
It is painful for those who have worked hard and long in the first instance to preserve the Arakwal Park and now continue to maintain the coastal heathland habitat. This entire coastal strip is a vital resource for the increasingly endangered shore birds that use this rare bush land to rest and breed on their long journey to and from China and the Antarctic.
What can we do?
I propose a meeting of police, Arakwal people, Environment Centre reps, Byron Shire Council rangers and environmental officers, Bush regen, Bush Fire Brigade, National Parks and relevant progress association representatives and backpacker establishments to come up with a strategic approach or protocol to pro-actively head off these illegal mass gatherings. Before it is too late.
This could be a matter for Council to take some leadership on, but/and I am willing to work with whoever would like to assist in achieving this outcome.
I can be contacted at [email protected]
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