Agricultural population growth marginal as nonagricultural population soars According to the Worldwatch Institute, the global agricultural population – defined as individuals dependent on agriculture, hunting, fishing, and forestry for their livelihood – accounted for over 37 per cent of the world’s total population in 2011, the most recent year for which data are available. This is a decrease of 12 per cent from 1980, when the world’s agricultural and nonagricultural populations were roughly the same size. Although the agricultural population shrank as a share of total population between 1980 and 2011, it grew numerically from 2.2 billion to 2.6 billion people during this period. Between 1980 and 2011, the non-agricultural population grew by a staggering 94 per cent, from 2.2 billion to 4.4 billion people – a rate approximately five times greater than that of agricultural population growth. In both cases growth was driven by the massive increase in the world’s total population, which more than doubled between 1961 and 2011, from 3.1 billion to 7 billion people. It should be noted that the distinction between these population groups is not the same as the rural-urban divide. Rural populations are not exclusively agricultural, nor are urban populations exclusively non-agricultural. The rural population of Africa in 2011 was 622.8 million, for instance, while the agricultural population was 520.3 million.
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Byron Shire Council Notices POLICY EXHIBITION
COUNCIL CONTACT DETAILS Council administration centre Opening hours: Front counter 9.00am to 4.00pm Switchboard: 8.30am to 4.30pm
6626 7000
Email council@byron.nsw.gov.au Web www.byron.nsw.gov.au Emergency after hours 6622 7022 Works Depot 6685 9300 Resident parking stickers Fax: 6684 3018 Sportsfield information line 6626 7111 SES Controller 6684 3444 Rural Fire Service 6684 3662 Myocum Waste & Recycling Centre 6684 1870 BRSCC (Byron Regional Sport and Cultural Complex) 6685 5911
of the United States, on the other hand, declined by 37 per cent as a result of large-scale mechanisation, improved crop varieties, fertilisers, pesticides, and federal subsidies – all of which contributed to economies of scale and consolidation in American agriculture. Although the world’s agricultural population grew only marginally in recent decades, global agricultural output increased dramatically. According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), global net agricultural production increased by 112 per cent between 1980 and 2011. The world’s net per capita production of agricultural goods increased by 35 per cent during this period, averting food security crises in many places.
Soil problems Although productivity gains have enabled farmers to meet the growing demand for food, the methods used to achieve such gains have come with unintended consequences, including soil degradation, pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, and depleted freshwater supplies. Short-term production gains achieved by overusing chemical pesticides and fertilisers have, as a result, reduced the sector’s long-term resilience to climate change. The FAO estimates that the global agricultural population will decline by 0.7 per cent and that the non-agricultural population will grow by 16 per cent between 2011 and 2020. The organisation also estimates that feeding a population projected to reach 9.1 billion in 2050 will require raising overall food production by some 70 per cent between 2005/07 and 2050. To address this challenge while promoting resilience to climate change and avoiding environmental degradation, farmers, governments, and the private sector could consider investing in agroecological approaches to farming, such as integrated pest management, no-till farming, cover cropping, and agroforestry. Policies encouraging the conversion of land from biofuels and livestock feed production to food production could also play a role in sustainably increasing the human food supply.
Although the agricultural population grew worldwide between 1980 and 2011, growth was restricted to Africa, Asia, and Oceania. During this period, this population group declined in North, Central, and South America, in the Caribbean, and in Europe. In 2011, Africa and Asia accounted for about 95 per cent of the world’s agricultural population. In contrast, the agricultural population in the Americas accounted for a little less than four per cent. Especially in the United States, this is the result of the development and use of new and innovative technologies as well as the increased use of farm machinery, chemical fertilisers, pesticides, and irrigation systems that require less manual labour. Population trends have varied widely for the world’s leading agricultural producers: China, India, and the United States. Between 1980 and 2011, the economically active agricultural populations of China and India grew by 33 and 50 per cent, respectively, due to overall population growth. The economically Q Read the full report at http:// active agricultural population bit.ly/agpoppop.
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Community Access Points: Documents on exhibition are available for review at the Council Administration Centre (Mullumbimby), Bangalow Post Office, Chincogan Real Estate Ocean Shores, Suffolk Beachfront Holiday Park and Brunswick Heads Library.
TEMPORARY ROAD CLOSURES ANZAC Day Parades Under the provisions of the Roads Act 1993, Council has resolved to support the following temporary road closures on Friday 25 April 2014 for the annual ANZAC Day Parade and Services. Detours will be in effect and small delays can be expected.
At the Ordinary Meeting held on 20 March 2014, Council resolved to place the following Policies on public exhibition for a period of 28 days for the making of public submissions. • Cemeteries Policy • Community Gardens Policy These Policies are available for viewing at Council’s administration office, community access points around the Shire and on Council’s website at www.byron.nsw.gov.au/public-exhibition. Submissions should be in writing and addressed to the General Manager, Byron Shire Council, PO Box 219, Mullumbimby 2482 or sent by email to submissions@byron.nsw.gov.au. Emailed submissions to this address only will be acknowledged. Submissions close: 4.00pm Tuesday 6 May 2014 Enquiries: Cemeteries Policy, Infrastructure Services 02 6626 7309 Community Gardens Policy, Sustainability Officer 02 6626 7305 Submissions will be made public in accordance with Schedule 1 Part 3 Clause 1(a)(vi) within Schedule 5 Part 2 of the GIPA 2009 regulations as applicable including both the substance of the objection and the identity of the objector. For assistance with this please call Council’s Records Coordinator on 02 6626 7113.
CALL FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST Late Night Bus and Lighthouse Shuttle, Byron Bay
Byron Bay: commencing 10:30am, parade will follow Jonson Street from Bay Street to Marvell Street at which it continues on Marvell Street until Tennyson Street for service at the Memorial Gates finishing at 12.00 noon.
Council are looking at the potential of operating a late night bus and Lighthouse shuttle bus service. The two services remain subject to approvals, for example NSW Transport approval and funding. At this time, Council is calling for expressions of interest from operators interested in such services.
Mullumbimby: commencing 10:30am, parade will follow Burringbar Street from Prince Street to Dalley Street then continue right onto Dalley Street, which will be closed between Burringbar Street and Tincogan Street until service ends approximately 11.30am.
Following the positive feedback received about the Late Night Bus and Park and Ride trial in Byron Bay over the 2013/14 peak summer season, Council is investigating ways to offer the late night service on an annual basis and trial a Lighthouse shuttle service.
Brunswick Heads: from 5.00am, the parade will follow Fawcett Street (west to east) to Memorial Park for a 45 minute service, after which it will return (east) along Fawcett Street and then follow the block bounded by Tweed Street, Mullumbimbi Street, Park Street and again Fawcett Street, passing the memorial and ending at the RSL Hall by approximately 7.00am.
Council has lodged a request with Transport for NSW for an exemption to the Passenger Transport Act 1990 and Passenger Transport Regulation 2007 from the requirement to hold a contract with Transport NSW to enable the bus operator to charge passengers a ticket price. If the request is successful, the exemption will apply to an accredited bus and coach operator to provide the service.
Bangalow: from 10.45am at the Bangalow Hotel, the parade commences east on Byron Street to Station Street, where it turns left (north) to conclude at the front of the RSL Memorial Hall with an on-road service due to finish by approximately 11.45am. Enquiries: Traffic Officer 02 6626 7080
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We are therefore, calling for expressions of interest from accredited bus and coach operators that may be interested in offering the above services on an annual basis. Further information and details of how the services operated in the 2013/14 summer season are available from the staff contact below. Please note, no project funding is currently available and submission of this expression of interest may not lead to any further action on this matter. If the exemption described above is provided, details of the service provision are to be negotiated with Council. An expression of interest form is available on Council’s website at www.byron.nsw.gov.au/expressionsofinterest. Submissions should be made on this form in writing and addressed to the General Manager, Byron Shire Council, PO Box 219 Mullumbimby 2482 or sent by email to submissions@byron.nsw.gov.au. Emailed submissions to this address only will be acknowledged. Submissions close: 4.00pm Friday 16 May 2014 Enquiries: Joanne McMurtry 02 6626 7316
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Rename the Byron Regional Sport and Cultural Complex Enter online at www.byron.nsw.gov.au or pick up an entry form at Byron Shire Council’s adminstration centre in Station St, Mullumbimby, at the Shire’s Libraries and the BRSCC. The name should ideally: t reflect the sporting, event and cultural uses of the building and outdoor sporting fields. t Include the word ‘Byron’ t be original: it should have a unique identity and be checked against other possible uses or meanings (especially in the case of acronyms). t be memorable and easy to pronounce and spell. t be long-lasting, as the name will become a key brand name of the facility. A copy of the Terms and Conditions can be found at www.byron.nsw.gov.au Entries close: Friday 2 May 2014
Please note: The canvassing of Councillors or Council staff in relation to this tender will automatically result in disqualification of offending tenderers.
REQUEST FOR QUOTATION NO: 24.2014.16.1 Design and Construct of a 50kw Solar Photovoltaic System for the Byron Sewage Treatment Plant Byron Shire Council (Council) invites quotes for a contract to Design and Construct a 50kw roof mounted Solar Photovoltaic (PV) grid connected system. Details of the proposed contract and the assessment criteria requirements are set out in the Request for Quotation documentation referred to below. Request for Quotation documents may be obtained by contacting Tenderlink at www.tenderlink.com/byron. If you experience difficulties accessing the website, please call the Tenderlink helpdesk on 1800 233 533. A mandatory briefing/site inspection will be held on Wednesday 30 April 2014 at the Byron Sewage Treatment Plant. Request for Quotations close: 2.00pm Wednesday 21 May 2014 Council invites any person willing to fulfil the requirements of the proposed contract to submit a quote to Council by the deadline specified in this advertisement and in accordance with the Request for Quotation Documents referred to above. Please note: The canvassing of Councillors or Council staff in relation to this tender will disqualify tenders from the tender process.
www.byron.nsw.gov.au The Byron Shire Echo April 22, 2014 37