←Volume 35
September 9, 2020
In this Issue:
Yes, Commissioner
Simon Alderton, Murwillumbah We continue the riveting saga of 2020’s most celebrated man in the state… the NSW Cross Border Commissioner. In this week’s episode of Yes, Commissioner, our besieged hero receives an email from a disgruntled resident of...
High rates low outcomes
Tina Petroff, Ocean Shores Great letter David Froggett I couldn’t agree with you more! Byron Shire Council (BSC) rates are now higher than Tweed Shire residential rates, and they’ve still stuck all our ratepayers with the highest water and sewerage rates in...
Besmirchment
Jo Faith, Newtown John Lazarus’s letter (26 August) addressed the possibility of a new art installation. I was hoping that ratepayers’ money would include the possibility of a First Nations artist being included. First Nations artists are recognised globally as...
Who’s first?
Ari Ehrlich, Tyalgum Enova Community Energy is building a first-of-its kind solar garden in the Northern Rivers region. This will allow renters, and others who are locked out of rooftop solar, to be able to participate in the transition to...
Media freedom laws welcomed by Law Council
A law advocacy group has welcomed key recommendations of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security in its review of press freedom.
Surf’s up at new museum
A priceless 30 year collection of surf nostalgia and culture will soon be made public, with the launch of the Legends Surf Museum.
Big plans for Mullumbimby’s CBD
Imagine the main street of Mullumbimby with half the traffic, shady spaces for conversation, and colourful, locally-made public art welcoming people to town.
A great trainless journey – treasures and challenges of the rail...
The last ‘surf train’ ran in 2004, and the rusty tracks have lain quiet since then while railway enthusiasts lobbied for its return, and others championed a scenic ‘rail trail’.
Love sea life?
Yvonne Jessup, Byron Bay Last Wednesday, 1 September, an unfortunate incident occurred that a few locals have been trying to prevent, and have brought to Byron Council’s attention. A turtle was rescued on the beach near Captain Cook Lookout with part of...
Stone the crows…
Keith Duncan, Pimlico Well stone the bloody crows, Kevin Hogan has said something! The photogenic image we constantly see in our local newspapers has developed a voice, and to cap it all off, Kevin has suddenly become an expert on health,...
Deferred democracy
Council elections would be occurring this week but it got caught up in the world series pandemic event. Instead, our benevolent NSW govcorp overlords have put it off for a year. Yet an election this week would have brought fresh new energy to local politics – it’s clearly needed.
We need a pandemic of imaginative change
Everyone agrees that this virus pandemic has changed everything. Questions must be answered now that will remake everything: do we need office buildings, how do we relate to our neighbours, our pets, and our devices, international travel, coughs and sneezes in public places. Is Daniel Andrews God or Lucifer?
Indigenous farming on offer at Wollongbar college
Indigenous land management and bush food farming are among the skills that will be taught in four new agriculture-focused training programs, launched last week by the North Coast Community College (NCCC).
Bangalow heritage home redevelopment sparks opposition
A proposal to rezone a heritage listed Bangalow home for commercial use has residents concerned.
COVID-19 and the vaccine….
Peter Olson, Goonengerry The article by Ewan Willis Pandemic or Plandemic – what is the value of a vaccine? naively implies the new coronavirus vaccines will be just like the old vaccines, and doesn’t differentiate between new mRNA vaccines and previous conventional...
The fate of coal
Michael Kellett, Pimlico It seems the hypocrisy of ‘our’ Federal Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction Targets, Angus Taylor (the irony), has just reached another level. The ever-conspiring Angus is now diverting public funds from the Clean Energy Fund into a $4...
Misner’s DA refusal
Marie Sherd, Mullumbimby Reading Hans Lovejoy’s piece in last week’s Echonetdaily re Council’s refusal of Tom Misner’s development application (DA) for a luxury dwelling and recording studio on Coolamon Scenic Drive was a WTF moment for me. Consider a couple of things:...
Exploring the risks of illegal dwellings
The Byron Shire and the Northern Rivers are well known for their abundent range of illegal dwellings, additions, and converted garages.
COVID-free zone?
John Caldwell, Georgica After months of self-isolating, apart from our essential weekly shopping in Lismore, I think we could be forgiven for escaping over to Nimbin and the market last Sunday for some good food and the laid-back atmosphere. We went duly...
Aussie health
J Rose, Mullumbimby There is a very obvious question that has been hanging in the air. Would the boofhead in Queensland who said that Queensland hospitals were for Queenslanders have a clue where we could find Australian hospitals for Australians?
The Channon/Dunoon Dam
Nan Nicholson, The Channon The proposed dam at The Channon/Dunoon is not about future water security. It is about driving unsustainable growth on the coast. Future water security for the region can easily be achieved without a big new dam. All...
Local businesses creating a better planet
In early March, Byron Council opened submissions for their 2020 Sustainability Awards to highlight those businesses doing good things for the environment.
Freedom’s limit tested
Saturday’s march from Railway Park in the name of freedom resulted in nine arrests and charges laid for breaching Public Health Orders, assaulting police (x1), resisting arrest and hindering police.
Cartoon of the week – 9 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...
Mandy Nolan’s Soapbox: May the Lord Open
That same feeling I had watching The Handmaid’s Tale has settled on me and it hasn’t left. 2020 has turned out to be the most surreal year of our collective lives.
