John Lazarus, Byron Bay
No level of government has demonstrated either the will or capacity to ensure a future liveable planet.
Byron Shire Council ignores alternatives to the Byron bypass and plans to destroy hectares of wetlands for a minor use ‘bypass’ road, and plans to place 194m2 of concrete on Railway Park.
The – rivers of dead fish – state government, without any request from Byron Council, and without any input from residents, announces that tenders are out for development of a Bus Station on the forested land on Butler Street. This includes the redevelopment of the land in front of the Rails Hotel and the redevelopment of the southern Lawson St carpark (Byron Council had already adopted commercial activities for these areas).
The federal government is led by Mr Coal, who states that reducing Australia’s carbon pollution below Paris targets wont do anything, due to the worlds greater emission levels. People are dying now from the changing climate impacts, and his statement effectively translates to ‘there is no point in reducing the amount of deaths and destruction from Australia’s carbon pollution because the other countries pollution is killing far more’.
Council has turned Butler Street Recreational Reserve into rubble, and without a development application wants to shut down the markets for up to 18 months and use it for a worksite depot for trucks and materials for these developments.
We have a local and global emergency. A rally to save our wetlands and save our town is being held on the Butler Street Reserve, 11am March 17. You can also support the School Strike for climate change students on March 15. It’s time to get organised to ensure a community and liveable future.
