←Volume 35
March 24, 2021
In this Issue:
Informed consent
John Scrivener, Main Arm The right to informed consent is a fundamental ethic in medicine and a basic human right recognised under international law. A year ago, an unrepresentative and antidemocratic cohort, including agents from the IMF, the WHO and the Billionaire...
Green is just a colour
John Lazarus, Byron Bay Byron Shire Council is doing Review of Planning Controls for the Byron Bay Town Centre. Submissions are due by 28 March. Council’s proposals, allegedly, are to adopt height planning controls, (and increase from 9m to 11.5m on two...
Ban party politics
Louise Doran, Ocean Shores It’s time to ban party politics at all levels of government. The resident from Drysdale Vic has obviously missed the long running, unedifying, public slanging match between The Greens party, former and current MPs, and councillors. He...
The Left strikes back
Keith Duncan, Pimlico As Australia continues to successfully deal with the pandemic, the Labor States, Qld, Vic and WA have shown the way in successfully containing infection outbreaks with their decisive policies of border closures and lockdowns. It was so disconcerting...
Mayor calls ‘Nymby’?
Annie Radermacher, Brunswick Heads Oh thanks Simon Richardson, you have resorted to name calling now? You may have heard our reservations, but obviously you have not listened. Can I ask how many boarding-houses are in your residential area? One? Two? Three?...
The power of planting for climate
On Tuesday, 16 March at Dingo Lane Farms in Myocum, Zero Emissions Byron launched the Replant Byron Alliance, aiming to both encourage landowners to drawdown carbon via biodiverse and productive land uses, and to quantify the collective impact of tree plantings.
Do only losers have honour?
There’s a sense in the air that a culture change may be on the way. The need for change has become abundantly clear since the notion of honour disappeared from public life.
Bayside boarding house DA before Council
The developer, who has taken Byron Council to court over the Brunswick Heads boarding house project, has reportedly offered to revise its development application, setting the scene for a possible negotiated approval with Council behind closed doors.
Good one Michael
Paul Brecht, Evans Head Reading Michael McDonald’s article Ghost in the archives (10 March) made me laugh a lot because I remember. Oh the memories of those heady days in the 90s Michael. I had a good laugh at your suggestion...
Support refugees
Meg Pickup, Ballina Sunday, 28 March, Ballina Region for Refugees is holding a Palm Sunday Rally on the foreshore near Byron Street, Lennox Head at 11am. The focus of the rally is on the Time for a Home and Get Them...
Self responsibility?
Vyvyan Stott, Goonengerry Rape is a crime which, if evidence is present, deserves the death penalty, according to bible law – ‘If a man forces a woman, he shall die’. This is an ugly and sad topic, yet needs addressing. When...
Create community connection and support
When there is an emergency sometimes the people you can rely on most are your neighbours and members of your local community.
Objections raised over CT, MO dwelling restrictions in Byron Shire
A new group promoting intentional communities on multiple occupancies (MOs) and community titles (CTs) is calling on councillors to reconsider staff’s hard line proposal to prohibit secondary dwellings on all MOs and CTs by Byron Shire Council.
Keeping life peachy with a new Queer beer
Keeping it fun and keeping it Queer Stone & Wood have been collaborating with the Northern Rivers LGBTQIA+ organisation, Queer Family Inc, to create the Peachy Cheeks beer.
Local impresses in croquet
Ballina-based David Scott has taken second place in the Queensland Men’s Open Golf Croquet Championships held in Brisbaner this month.
Byron Councillor seeks mandatory contact with new rural landowners
A Notice of Motion before Byron Council this Thursday aims to formalise ‘a mandatory initial contact for Council with all new purchasers of land in the rural areas of our Shire to ensure they are aware of this service’.
Oceans 15 ready to compete at State swimming finals
Fifteen swimmers from the Ocean Shores Aquatics Swim Team will represent the Far North Coast Division and their schools over the next month at the Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre.
Aren’t you lucky!
Sam Leader, Mullumbimby The ‘Equality? You’re lucky you don’t get shot at!’ comment and the disdain it thinly veils has done more to galvanise my anger than the protest itself, which was in fact hugely inspiring. A lot of Mullum’s gathering comprised...
Governing by alcohol
Louise Andrews, Lennox Head If alcohol were available in the workplaces of doctors and nurses, teachers, bus drivers, dentists, airline pilots, police officers, in fact anyone in whom we entrust our care, there would be outrage. Why then is it tolerated...
A call for ‘help’
J Thomas, Mullumbimby A few nights ago I was disturbed by a woman screaming, ‘Stop! Stop! Stop! Get away from me! No, No! Get away!’ I hesitated, fearful for my own safety, then leapt off my bed, got into my shoes and...
Entertainment in the Byron Shire and Beyond for the Week beginning...
Entertainment in the Byron Shire and Beyond for the Week beginning 24 March, 2021
Interview with Julian Louis, Artistic Director of NORPA
After a year in the shadows, NORPA is kicking in with a powerhouse program for the last six months of 2021.
Interview with Ben Lee
Ben Lee is on at Lismore City Hall and Brunswick Picture House
Navigating a tricky year: what Woody’s did next
A tricky year of health public restrictions meant that Woody’s 10th birthday party was a little low key, but the milestone delivered a great sense of pride and achievement for this awesome venue that is a permanent fixture in...
Diverting his attention to fungi – it’s more fun
Story & photo Lisa Machin For Gary Miller, being in the forest instead of being in front of a computer screen was a no-brainer. Five years on, the Northern Rivers community is enjoying the spoils of his diverted attention. Gary had...
