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Community grants on offer Correction Community organisations within Byron Shire are invited to apply for the 2016 Community Grant Fund. Each year, Splendour in the Grass says it donates a portion of the event’s ticket sales to some of Byron Shire’s valuable local community groups. Organisers say throughout Splendour’s 15-year history, more than $450,000 has been distributed to community projects. ‘Previous grant recipients include Ocean Shores Tidy Towns, Shara Community
Gardens, Brunswick Valley Rescue, Pets For Life Animal Shelter (Billinudgel), Mullumbimby High School, Ocean Shores Public School (music program), Brunswick Heads Public School, The Pocket and Crabbes Creek public schools, Byron Youth Service and the Byron Homeless and Community Breakfast. The application is available at www.splendourinthegrass. com/event-info/communitygrants. Deadline is 5pm, Friday July 15.
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Last week’s story regarding the new highway’s effect on the Macadamia Castle incorrectly stated that promises made by Nationals MLC Ben Franklin to owner Mr Gilding were broken by the RMS. The quote should have read: ‘Mr Franklin has been a help but sadly promises made at that meeting have already been broken by RMS.’
netdaily.net.au
Bashing it for variety
Fest breathtest results out Organisers of a free breathtest and information booth at this year’s Bluesfest say that over 1,100 breath-tests and 120 surveys were undertaken, and 100 per cent of patrons intended to change their behaviour after finding they were over the legal limit. For more information visit steerproject.org.au.
Eighty-four Variety Bash cars rolled into Mullum Public School last Thursday, as part of a fundraising drive for disabled and special-needs children under 15 years. Originally the bash was the idea of businessman, explorer and philanthropist Dick Smith. According to www. variety.org.au he organised the first bash in 1985. Pictured is Steven Lavis on horn with Dennis and Robyn Peters. Photo Jeff ‘Paddock Bashed Since 1986’ Dawson
Market licences up for grabs Emily Pierce & Hans Lovejoy
Five-year market licences for the Shire were discussed at a Council-led meeting last Wednesday. Issues were tabled by Byron market operators, such as traffic and parking and the effect of the planned bypass along Byron Bay’s Butler Street. They say the bypass will further reduce parking in the popular area. But there’s another issue with Council’s plans to tender out market management. The Echo asked the Byron Bay Community Association,
who manage the Byron markets, the implications if they were not awarded the tender. Although councils fund other community centres, Council does not fund the Byron Bay Community Centre, which relies in part on the income from market stallholders. Community Association secretary David Sweet replied, ‘The Community Centre very much relies on the management of the Community Markets to fund a number of important community programs. ‘At a Committee of Management level we haven’t precisely identified what services
would be scaled back or taken away; however, we are well aware it would have a devastating effect on the community centre if Council ended our management of the markets.’
Ramifications ‘We believe we have a strong proven track record of managing the community markets and delivering vital community services to Byron Bay, which should give us a good chance of retaining the markets. However, we are concerned about the ramifications if Byron Council
decides to give the markets to another tenderer.’ The Echo also asked Council staff why its tender process doesn’t include Bangalow markets, which are held on Council-managed land. Council’s media spokesperson replied, ‘The Bangalow A&I Showground Trust is managed on behalf of Council by a Section 355 community committee.’ ‘Under this arrangement, the committee is responsible for managing the property and the events that occur.’ Tender applications close June 15.
Labor’s Mark Butler in town Hans Lovejoy
LAWNS NEED A BIT OF A TRIM?
CALL THE EXPERTS! FIND THEM QUICKLY & EASILY IN THE ECHO SERVICE DIRECTORY – SEE PAGES 37–41 2 May 25, 2016 The Byron Shire Echo
Shadow frontbencher Mark Butler, from South Australia, sailed through the Shire last week as part of the election roadshow. He’s held an array of portfolios since 2007, and is currently shadow minister for environment, climate change and water. Mr Butler came across as relaxed, affable and engaged. Like many from Labor, he worked within the union movement; he spent 15 years in the Liquor Hospitality and Miscellaneous Union (LHMU). His replies to questions were considered and sounded informed. Even my question about how the ruling global
Local MP Justine Elliot and shadow frontbench MP Mark Butler at the Poinciana Cafe in Mullum. Photo supplied
financial elites – who make up rules that no-one understands – were taken seriously. So what does he think of creating a federal ICAC? He cautiously said it would be a good thing if it had a strong framework.
As for environmental issues, he made the point that the alarming loss of the Great Barrier Reef is not just owing to warmer waters from climate change; it’s also due in part to the industrial chemical run-off from intensive farming.
He’s in favour of reducing the large-scale land clearing which is damaging QLD – that is now on the agenda of the NSW Baird government. Labor’s ambitious plan to reach a 50 per cent renewables target by 2030 is achievable, he claims, and he said that his discussions with industry indicate it could be done, albeit on a stretch, and would require quick large solar-farm roll-outs. As for breaking up duopolies such as Coles and Woolies, Mr Butler seemed to sympathise with the staggering inequity but wasn’t committed to legislation; he believed that consumer advocacy can play a role. The current campaign to support milk farmers was a good example, he said.
Byron Shire Echo archives: www.echo.net.au/byron-echo