←Volume 35
September 23, 2020
In this Issue:
Weaponising health
J Rose, Mullumbimby Who could have believed it would ever happen? But it has – the weaponisation of health to try to win an election! I for one can’t imagine a lower form of heartless, immoral bastardry. Let’s hope it’s an...
Free speech or liable?
Fast Buck$, Coorabell When you attend a Council meeting there is a sign attached to the entry door, which warns the public that they may be personally liable for any defamatory remarks they make inside. When the meeting starts the chair provides...
Worth the sacrifice?
Peter Olson, Goonengerry 102,888 Australians have given their lives in wars: for liberty. Now every Australian has sacrificed their liberty, for a virus, which has killed less than 1,000 Australians. 1,255 Australians died from influenza in 2017 and no freedoms were...
Speak up, Julia
Martin Bail, Federal I remember in 2012 cheering when Julia Gillard rose in parliament to tell her opposite number ‘I will not be lectured about sexism and misogyny by this man’. She’s less well remembered for throwing Australian citizen and journalist,...
Where the law fails children
Name withheld Thank you, Mandy, (Soapbox, 16 September) for shining a light on an all-too-common issue that affects every community around the world. As the parents of two young children who were abused in all-too-common circumstances (by the partner of a...
The Kollective impact on Byron
Jeff Harrison, Byron Bay Residents of Brunswick Heads can visit Sunrise Beach Estate to see a visible negative effect of The Kollective’s developments on our neighbourhoods – our streets are now cluttered with parked cars. This developer exploits the unrealistic, and woefully...
COVID thoughts
Frank Lynch, Wilsons Creek I’ve been reflecting on recent news reports about some people’s negative reactions to COVID-19 lockdowns and border closures. I do feel that some people act as if everything is known about COVID by those in charge, i.e. the...
EDO on saving koalas
Jo Faith, Newtown The Environmental Defenders Office (EDO) have submitted the best analysis on the state of koalas and their habitat.
Byron bashing
Sue Lennox, Byron Bay Our family have lived in Byron Bay for 18 years and are considered newcomers, not locals, and we’re fine with that. Why? Because we chose to live here for the eclectic environment, energy of the youth, festivals,...
School P&C calls for govt to ‘turn the taps on’
The NSW Education Department are refusing to explain why a new recycled grey water system at the Byron Bay Public School won’t be authorised for use.
JobKeeper cuts to impact 33,000 local workers, says Labor MP
Local MP Justine Elliot has optimistically called on local National Party branch members to resign in disgust over the party’s cuts to JobKeeper payments, and their ‘chaotic NSW government infighting and koala killer agenda’.
Fate of former Byron Hospital up this week
Responsibility for the management of the old Byron Hospital site is set to be handed over to an incorporated not-for-profit company, which will have the power to decide who will be part of the new community services hub being set up there.
Kollectively unaffordable
Annie Radermacher, Brunswick Heads Here in Bayside Brunswick Heads, we have The Kollective developers pushing to develop a parcel of land. The Kollective have in the past, and continue to, use a scheme under the Affordable Housing SEPP. The Kollective wish...
Special rate arrangements should continue: staff
At this Thursday’s meeting, Byron councillors will vote upon extending special payment arrangements for ratepayers affected by COVID-19 to the end of the year.
Byron/Suffolk Park cycleway works to be voted on
Byron Council will this week (Thursday, 24 September) vote on much-needed works to ensure that local school students using the Byron to Suffolk Park cycleway can complete the journey to class safely.
Secret Mullum development report upsets residents
Byron Council has produced a ‘secret’ report on potential development sites in Mullumbimby, including Council-owned land near the Community Gardens, the Mullumbimby Residents Association says.
Mullums flood secrets
Sonia Laverty, Convener, MRA We have a right to know. It is well known that the committee for the North Byron Floodplain Risk Management Study and Plan (FRMS&P) has been hard at work for several months. The final report will be...
Koala death divide
Paul Gannon, Coopers Shoot The changes to the SEPP in NSW will not save koalas. The minor changes are a deliberate distraction from the neglect of public parklands by the present state and federal governments. The continual ‘efficiency dividends’ targeting state...
West Byron raises its ugly head again
Jennifer Gray, Myocum Although Villa World’s Byron development application for its half of the West Byron subdivision was rejected by the planning panel and the Byron Shire community, another DA has been dropped on us this week for the same site...
Cartoon of the week – 23 September, 2020
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.
Lennox Head Trojans win rugby final
Ross Kendall Far North Coast Rugby came to an end for 2020 on the weekend, with Lennox Head claiming the first-grade premiership with a dominating finals run that included a commanding 32-0 grand final victory over last year’s champions, Alstonville...
Byron Rams reach grand final
Ross Kendall The Byron Bay Services Club Rams are into their fourth FFNC Premier League grand final, after defeating Alstonville FC 3-2 in the semi-final. It was a knockout final, where the second-placed Rams took on third-placed Alstonville. With Alstonville winning the...
Mandy Nolan’s Soapbox: Please Hate Me
Online hate is poisoning our brains. Online hate can have real physical consequences. Constant exposure can send your body into survival mode; causing anxiety, insomnia and depression. Hate is making us sick.
Interview with Simon Greaves and Gyan of Safe Sets
Playing it Safe with Simon & Gyan It’s been 30 years since musician Gyan released her debut self-titled studio album Gyan that saw her take out the ARIA that year for best new talent. In this interview she talks to...
The taste of the Mediterranean in Byron Bay
Antoine Quezel’s range of olives, sweet pickled garlic, antipasti, tapenades and cheeses at the Byron Bay Olive Co, brings the taste of France to the Northern Rivers, using as many local and organic ingredients as they can.
