←Volume 35
September 2, 2020
In this Issue:
Undesirable precedent claims from planning staff
A luxury multi-dwelling DA for 255 Coolamon Scenic Drive has been refused by Council’s planning staff, based on creating an ‘undesirable precedent’.
Assange’s extradition
Roy Drew, Mullumbimby Australian citizen journalist/publisher Julian Assange’s full hearing for extradition to the US is scheduled to start on Monday, 7 September at The Old Bailey in London. Extradition hearings, and all of the preliminary hearings so far, have been held...
Byron Shire’s unauthorised dwelling approval policy goes public
Byron Council’s plan to provide the owners of unauthorised dwellings with an avenue to seek approval has proceeded to the next stage, with councillors dismissing a number of amendments requested by a community group.
A little love goes a long way
The SHIFT fundraising sale of preloved and new clothing, to aid homeless women, is taking place this Saturday, 5 September.
Northern Rivers brand launches
A new initiative, the Northern Rivers Brand, has been developed through a collaboration of regional partners, including key business, industry and government representatives – collectively they are Northern Rivers Together.
Environment?
Alan Dickens, Brunswick Heads The front page article on the Byron bypass last week and the alleged failure of Byron Shire Council (BSC) to consider and present the environmental impacts of the bypass would come as no surprise to anyone who...
Editorial – Ready for summer?
For the North Coast, fire season kicked off early on September 1, and if you are a rural dweller, it’s worth considering what fire plan you have.
Our train
Carole Gamble, Mullumbimby Creek The article published in Echonetdaily ‘TOOT still fighting to save the rails’ about the ongoing efforts of a small dedicated band of people who are still working towards reinstating our railway, was fantastic. Unfortunately their artistic banner showing...
Hopeless Council
Fast Buck$, Coorabell How truly hopeless this elected council is. I’m starting to think seriously about lobbying for an administrator to take over for 12 months till the next election, or to sack the councillors and put in an expert. The major...
Council remove Mullum fig tree
A large fig tree at the intersection of Dalley Street and Jubilee Avenue in Mullumbimby was removed because of the risk it posed to pedestrians and drivers.
NSW govt argues against adopting CSG recommendations
Many of the NSW Chief Scientist’s recommendations on regulating the CSG industry will not be adopted, according to the government response.
The Farm sells to local investors
The Farm, located on Ewingsdale Road near the Byron Central Hospital, has sold for an undisclosed price, according to owners Emma and Tom Lane.
Little white dots
Roger Fuller, Tyagarah The temporary roundabout at Butler Street Byron Bay appears to be working very well, proving that ‘just’ a painted circle on the road, as often used in parts of Europe, will suffice! Think of all the money that...
Pandemic or Plandemic – what is the value of a vaccine?
Given that vaccines are among the best methods that medicine has for controlling viral disease it might seem surprising that so many are opposed to their use on a fundamental level. Especially surprising in the midst of a global p(l)andemic.
Ghetto tax
David Froggatt, Ocean Shores I just received my rates notice and was stunned to see the annual bill go up by about $500. On reading the accompanying literature I discovered that an increase in property values has led to a...
Lobbying underway for border easing
Local mayors and council general managers across the region have joined forces in a bid to convince the QLD government to ease its draconian border restrictions.
Institutional forgetting
David Pont, Indonesia Council’s plan to shorten the route of excess treated effluent to the Belongil carries serious implications. Let’s dig down by looking at the Byron Bay Effluent Management Strategy – the guiding legal and, importantly, moral framework for the...
Who needs reality TV
Andrew Hall, Ocean Shores What costs more than the Olympics, is more insidious than the novel coronavirus and more exciting than Game of Thrones? The biggest game in town; the US presidential race. An epic tale of Good versus Evil. Seriously folks, reality...
Border struggles
Gail Rundle, Mullumbimby The hard closure of the Queensland border is causing heartache and distress for the residents of the Northern Rivers. There is distressing news of people unable get a pass to cross the border – until the media gets...
Cartoon of the week – 2 September, 2020
Letters to the editor We love to receive letters, but not every letter will be published; the publication of letters is at the discretion of the online and print letters editors. The deadline for the Byron Echo newspaper is noon Friday and letters longer...
Cinema Roundup for the week starting September 2
Palace Cinemas in Byron Bay are about to celebrate the legendary Studio Ghibli’s 35th anniversary. Palace’s film program charts the development of the iconic animation studio via an expansive chronological schedule featuring some of your favourites like: My Neighbour Totoro, Spirited Away, and many more!
Mandy Nolan’s Soapbox: The 7 stages of Losing Your iPhone
I lost my phone. It’s been 9 hours and 32 minutes. It’s the digital detox I never meant to have. I feel weird. Like someone stole my kidney. Well that wouldn’t be so bad. At least I have two. I’m cycling through the Kubler Ross stages of grief. Denial – it has to be in my handbag. So I tip it out 12 times and sift through the rubble. It has to be here. It’s a fruitless autopsy.
Husk – great rums and gins, from the paddock to bottle
A writer and an exploration geologist with a PhD in earth science have found that they have what it takes to make great rums and gins. Founded by husband and wife team, Paul Messenger and Mandy Perkins, Husk Farm Distillery...
A great kombucha with a little something extra
Three blokes, who have all spent their careers in the beverage industry, have teamed up with Stone & Wood to make delicious drinks. Paul Tansley, Cam MacFarlane, and James Mackinnon took over the old Stone & Wood facility when they moved...
Young people saying YEP to the environment
Organisers of the Young Environment Protectors (YEP) high school art competition say that like many projects, their timing has been changed by the pandemic, but, they are forging ahead.
