I’ve given up my walk on the beach this morning to defend our ugly bitumen beach carpark. Sad because I did want to experience a little natural foreshore around our beautiful township and of course I’m spoiled for choice.
Rusty is probably already out in the water passing on the knowledge of a genuine waterman. But here I am taking up space, can’t help it really, I was plonked here no less than the trees and the sky. We humans take up space, we are in fact a huge blight on this planet and threaten to dominate it entirely. That is true, but Byron Bay in all of this is a small moment in time. We have a carpark on the beachfront that hosts a seaside community from mums and dads, children in prams, elders, and those with disabilities bringing close engagement with the natural rhythms, the joy and awe of the ocean.
It can be a jostle there, being aware of how many, and the diversity of people we share our space with, it’s a forced and random encounter – rather exciting really. This is a vital part of our small township but if we are to transform into Coolangatta it’s just not going to work is it? Byron Bay understands its relationship with nature; we are hopefully aware of our impacts and the need for the balancing act. Celebrate our small carpark as a headland, lets tidy it up, pave it with marble, teach the children the ways of the ocean and how we divert or play with its flow.
For four decades The Echo has printed the stories some people loved, some people hated, and some pretended not to read. If you want us to keep telling the truth, the real truth, not the sugar-coated version. We’ll need your support to keep the presses rolling. 
