After reading the letters and the account of Council’s proceedings last Thursday in The Echo, all that I find to say positive about the town is that the poinciana trees and the flame trees are in splendid blossom this year.
In the Solomon Islands, they refer to poincianas as Christmas trees, and will decorate their homes with the bright crimson-flowering branches.
But it is a cause for gloom, in my opinion, to note Council’s approval of the SEP trial.
Though it was not unanimous.
As The Echo’s letters have more than adequately covered the arguments put forward against the SEP, all I wish to point out again is that it would be interesting to record just how many of those who voted for it actually live in the town itself.
I have serious concerns about the manner in which things are foisted upon the place, and the little effect ‘democratic’ calls to query them seem to achieve.
I note again that the whole issue of electric and other bicycle hazards in town generally, and especially on the footpaths, seems to be consistently ignored.
As a pedestrian, I estimate I have a couple of seriously near misses daily.
But it seems that this whole situation is ignored, regardless of the advice of other concerned people.
Perhaps it all links in with the town’s ‘vibrancy,’ and is seen as an adjunct to tourism and local business now? And the state government seem pretty lacking in interest in the issues.
I consider the continual assertion that Byron Bay is particularly a haven to so-called ‘creatives’ is also drawing a long bow.
The other night I suffered the tuneless, almost mono-chordal twanging of an amplified guitar that dribbled on after ten o’clock to 11.
The whole image of the Bay that certain people like to present, I would argue, is a quasi-myth; an advertiser’s peddled fantasy like the wretched term ‘Byron Brand’.
There are intelligent, caring, socially-minded people who live here, and work hard to try and look after their home.
But they are not actually in charge of the ‘open air asylum’, as a professional singer and arts administrator I knew used to refer to the place.
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. 
