←Volume 35
October 21, 2020
In this Issue:
Rum Corp runs NSW
Louise Doran, Ocean Shores It’s planned to spend $78m of taxpayers’ money to move the traffic congestion, dangerously banking up at the Byron Bay exit of the M1 further up Ewingsdale Road (7 October). Add the $24m cost of the Byron...
Albo’s outstanding
Alan Veacock, Cumbalum In reply to a great letter from Helen Cust (7 October), she must have had an insight into Albo’s budget reply speech, when he highlighted the appalling misrepresentation, (and outright lies) the coalition has been perpetrating about Kevin...
Sewage treatment
Jim Mangleson, Ocean Shores I can understand Alan Dickens frustration with the failings of the operations of the multi-million dollar Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs). I suspect that he knows more about how to operate these new STPs effectively than the management...
The Luddites are back
Graham Mathews, Possum Creek The Luddites are back. I read, with a distinct lack of enthusiasm, comments attributed to Richard, Trip A Deal CEO, who points out that ‘our internet already works fine here...’ (14 October). Hardly surprising since, as I...
All together now!
Fast Buck$, Coorabell Last April a Council event took place that was unapproved at the time. The right-wing, led by the Council staff, tried to take advantage of COVID-19 fears by having Simon Richardson installed as generalissimo. They asked elected councillors to...
5G consultation
Michael Stav, Mullumbimby Doesn’t the word ‘consultation’ imply a two-way street – or is it just a one-way trip to the rubbish bin? No one answers the phone or email when invited to consult re 5G in the Shire. This leaves unanswered...
One sided
Raphael Lee Cass, Byron Bay I was mildly amused by The Echo’s front page headline on October 14, ‘Byron’s turn to fight Telstra’s 5G plans.’ What? Everybody in Byron Shire is fighting? I looked for the ‘balanced reporting’ to read comments from...
Secret roads
Gyan Moyes, Tyagarah I was interested to read in The Echo (7 October) about the Council staff approach to Infrastructure Australia for funding to upgrade Ewingsdale Road. I was particularly interested in Cr Basil Cameron’s and State Member Tamara Smith’s comments and opinions...
Why we should spare that tree
Measures to protect koala habitat have been diluted by the NSW government following a National Party campaign backed mainly by developers fearing the impact of tree preservation on their profits.
Luxury Talofa cabins approved by councillors
A holiday cabin development in Talofa will go ahead with half the number of parking spaces the developer requested, after Byron Council granted conditional approval last week.
Byron High Year 12 students speak of studying for exams in...
One group for whom 2020 has presented extraordinary challenges is the current crop of Year 12 students, who are about to sit their HSC examinations.
A little 5G
Dave Lisle, Goonengerry For Helena Norberg-Hodge, rejecting 5G is a ‘no brainer’ (14 October). Apparently, 5G is a technological ‘giant leap’ aimed at speeding things up, taking our jobs, and enhancing the dominance of the one per cent. But what, I wonder,...
Citizen rights
Cr Michael Lyon, The Pocket You may have caught sight recently of John Anderson’s, (aka Fast Buck$), continuing deterioration in the form of lodging code of conduct complaints against several councillors, myself included. I would ask him to refrain from wasting Council’s...
Stolen money
Ann Carter, Mullumbimby If banking legislation gets the ‘Yes’ vote this November in Australia, the banks will be able to steal your money, legally, out of your account and use your money to prop themselves up, and support their risky financial...
Resident groups split over unauthorised dwelling policy
With Council extending public submissions by one week for landowners to respond to the draft Unauthorised Dwelling Policy, resident groups appear to be divided on the issue.
A secret meeting and that $78m funding application
Answers to questions raised by Cr Basil Cameron regarding a secret meeting and a $78m funding application by staff to a federal agency to upgrade the M1 highway interchange at Byron Bay have been answered by Council’s Director Infrastructure Services, Phil Holloway.
Art of 70s and 80s culture captured on film
In the 1970s and 80s, the area around Mullumbimby and the Byron Shire hosted the birth of a multitude of alternative practices and ideals.
Silence stokes fears
Doug Luke, VOHL More than one month ago Victims of Holiday Letting (VOHL) made a written query to NSW Planning Minister, Mr Rob Stokes. An extract: ‘It has been more than one year since submissions for the Discussion Paper “Short Term Rental...
Dredging for beaches
Warwick Anderson, Suffolk Park Changes in inshore currents, more water, high tides and rough seas have had a damaging effect on some of our beaches. Beaches have been scoured out, up and down the east coast. The northern sides of points,...
5G consultation
Michael Stav, Mullumbimby Doesn't the word 'consultation' imply a two-way street - or is it just a one-way trip to the rubbish bin? No one answers the phone or email when invited to consult re 5G in the Shire. This leaves unanswered...
Cartoon of the week – 21 October, 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.
Interview with Choreographer Michael Hennessy
In a world that’s not built for you, can you dare to dream of life, love and a rightful place within it all? Choreographer Michael Hennessy spoke with The Echo about the upcoming show Oh How I Dreamt of Things Impossible at NORPA this week.
Interview with Director Wayne Blair
The Byron Bay Film Festival is one of the first major events to make its way back onto the social calendar, opening on Friday at The Palace with a sold out session of Firestarter. There will be other screenings over the festival, as it is a film that everyone should see. Director Wayne Blair shared some of his story with The Echo.
Entertainment in the Byron Shire for the week beginning 20 October,...
Entertainment in the Byron Shire for the week beginning 20 October, 2020
Jingi Walla – welcome to my country
Eve Jeffery Local Arakwal woman, Delta Kay, is excited to be sharing her culture and her country as she leads Aboriginal tours exploring Cape Byron and Broken Head. Delta Kay, well known and respected in the Byron Shire, is passionate about...
