Letters
Hospital update Regarding recent coverage of the new $88m Byron Central Hospital, we wish to advise the community that it is the end of construction, not the opening of the hospital, that is scheduled for next March. A commissioning phase of 6–8 weeks will follow the completion of works, with the hospital due to become operational by the end of June 2016. By this time the acute care and community health services presently operating in Mullumbimby and Byron Bay will be consolidated in the purpose-built facility, which provides an expanded range of higher-level services, including CT scanning. In addition,
there will be 195 on site parking bays, 28 bicycle spaces, and 16 motorcycle spaces. Roadworks commencing soon on Ewingsdale Road west of the site (towards the Tweed Motorway) will include a roundabout enabling access to the main hospital entrance, and a dedicated cycleway from the site to McGettigans Lane. Access to local properties and businesses will not be affected by these roadworks. Robin Osborne Community Liaison Byron Central Hospital
Goodbye, Jim North Coast Holiday Parks (NCHP) administrator Jim
Bolger is no longer in charge of Byron Shire’s Crown Reserve caravan parks. The Crown trustees have released no statement and are not forthcoming about the circumstances of Mr Bolger’s unexpected departure on September 1. We can only assume the long-running dispute over caravan park boundaries has claimed another scalp. Council’s refusal in July to renew the caravan park licences (now called ‘Approvals to Operate’) and their explicit directives to NCHP for new ATO applications to include Council-determined park boundaries has seriously undermined the Crown’s efforts
Letters to the Editor Send to Letters Editor Michael McDonald, fax: 6684 1719 email: editor@echo.net.au Deadline: Noon, Friday. Letters longer than 200 words may be cut. Letters already published in other papers will not be considered. Please include your full name, address and phone number for verification purposes.
to implement their new plans of management. NCHP’s new plans propose major works on our highly prized public foreshore lands. Steve Edmonds, CEO of NSWCHPT, is currently engaged in negotiations with Council, and will be exerting considerable pressure to maximise their commercial operations. Council must remain strong and firm in defending our public assets. We must insist: 1. The reinstatement of the public walkway along Simpsons Creek in Terrace Park is not negotiable and a Council directive reiterated since 2000. 2. Ferry Reserve foreshore must be retained for public recreation – protect and prohibit heavy vehicles on the riverbank.
THE BYRON SHIRE
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The Byron Shire Echo September 30, 2015 9