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Byron Shire
March 29, 2024

Transparency key

Latest News

Resilient Lismore’s ‘Repair to Return’ funding

On the eve of the second anniversary of the second devastating flood in 2022, Resilient Lismore has welcomed the finalisation of its funding deed with the NSW Reconstruction Authority, which will enable the continuation of its ‘Repair to Return’ program.

Other News

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Fresh air federal funds for Northern Rivers schools in need

Eighteen schools in the Northern Rivers division of Richmond have received $25,000 each as part of the federal government’s School Upgrade Fund, Labor Member for Richmond Justine Elliot said last week.

Mandy Nolan’s Soapbox: Why Being Seen is Beautiful

There is something profound about being seen. Being accepted and loved for exactly who you are. It’s life changing. It’s simple. It’s transformative. But some people don’t get to experience this. Nearly half of transgender Australians have attempted suicide.That data tells the very real impact of discrimination, stigma and lack of access to gender-affirming surgery. I write this as a woman who was born a woman, who identifies as a woman. I’ll admit, that even in that gender role, that fits within the societal binary, I’ve had my own challenges.

Bay FM community radio celebrates digital upgrade

Volunteers from Byron and across the Northern Rivers celebrated nearly $100,000 worth of new studio equipment at Bay FM Community Radio station on the weekend.

Duncan Dey, Greens mayoral candidate

I’m standing for election as the next Mayor of Byron Council and wish to respond on one of the matters raised in [ITAL]The Echo’s editorial Comment of 30 June: the mayoral diary.

Making Council transparent is the best way of establishing trust. Talking about trust isn’t what makes it happen. The Byron Model was an attempt at that but went nowhere. Nor did Council’s proactive media endeavours.

There are many places where I’ll pursue transparency on Council. Recent Councils forgot that councillors are elected as our representatives. I’ll represent non-voters too, like people under 18. I’ll ask questions of ‘the machine’, rather than just present the machine’s choices to residents.

I was pre-selected in 2020 by Byron Greens on a platform of transparency. I promised the Greens then and I promise the Shire now that as Mayor, my diary will be public. If developers have reason to meet with me, the meetings will include Council staff and/or other councillors. I will not meet them solo. Topics and outcomes will be minuted.

I look forward to opportunities to respond to the dozen or so other questions in the Comment.


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2 COMMENTS

  1. I was pre-selected in 2020 by Byron Greens on a platform of transparency.

    Does this platform include all the various coloured factions within your own fractured Greens as well ?

  2. Duncan can start with transparency by making public the Terms of Reference given to Arcadis for Dual Use Study into the plans for resurrecting the old railway. So far the Greens controlled council has refused to allow the ratepayers of the shire to see the basis of the report they paid hundreds of thousands of dollars for.

    Many believe Arcadis was told to come up with a justification for running some kind of rail service and they had to make some quite extraordinary assumptions to achieve the required finding.

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Editorial – Joyous propaganda! 

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