THE BYRON SHIRE
Courses Febr ua to June 2011 ry
Terms 1 & 2
Volume 25 #32 Tuesday, January 18, 2011 Mullumbimby 02 6684 1777 Byron Bay 02 6685 5222 Fax 02 6684 1719 editor@echo.net.au adcopy@echo.net.au www.echo.net.au 21,000 copies every week
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NE W BYRONE COLLEGE COURS GUIDE
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WEEK’S IN THISH EC O!Byyro ron on
S U N I S S H I N I N G , T H E W E AT H E R I S S W E E T, Y E A H
Chucking a sicky for the sick surf
Monday morning, Brunswick Heads. Why work when you can get a tow-in? Ocean Shores resident Jarrah Linklater caught this amazing moment from South Wall of an unknown surfer with large testicles.
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Corner of Burrin Corn gbar & Gordon Street s, Mullumbim by PO Box Bo 571, Mullu Phone 6684 3374 mbimby 2482 Fax 6684 www.b byroncollege.org.a 3115 u
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Belongil Beach residents sue Ten residents of Belongil Beach, whose properties adjoin the eroding sand dunes, have launched an action for negligence in the Supreme Court of NSW against Byron Shire Council. They are seeking compensation for the damage to their properties, which they claim is caused by the Main Beach rock wall and groyne which Council built in the 1960s and extended in 2001. If they are successful, the compensation for such highly valued properties is likely to be as much as $100 million. A bitter disagreement between Council and residents has been building for several years following Council’s adoption of a ‘planned retreat’ policy in respect of land at risk from global warming consequences. The impetus for the residents filing the claim at this juncture appears to be a recent report from the NSW Valuer-General which sees the value of Belongil beachfront properties decline by 50 per cent. Council general manager Graeme Faulkner told The Echo that lawyers for Council have not yet been engaged. ‘Council is waiting on a response from its insurer on the plaintiffs’ statement of claim, and cannot offer any further comment at the moment,’ he said.
Woolies’ subsidiary Dan Murphy’s lodges DA Local retailers raise concern for another bottle shop in the Byron Bay CBD Victoria Cosford
The contentious issue of a Dan Murphy’s store in the heart of Byron Bay has raised its head once again. Council announced through its DAs, an application for the ‘refurbishment’ of the existing shopping centre, and use as a bottle shop on Jonson Street premises. The DA was lodged by Azzura Holdings Pty Ltd, the same Gold
Coast construction company which lodged a DA in December 2009. Liquor giant Dan Murphy’s is owned by Woolworths. Despite confirmation in February 2010 that they would open a large outlet under the Dendy Cinemas in Byron Bay, the DA was withdrawn about six months later. Opponents had listed traffic chaos, lack of car parking, proximity to other, smaller liquor outlets and the town’s under-
age drinking problem, amongst other concerns. One of the more vocal opponents was Darren Pearson, General Manager of The Cellar liquor store, near the proposed site. He told The Echo that he has been busy emailing concerned parties about the new DA, targeting all Byron Shire councillors, other licensees in town, Byron Youth and community groups and schools.
He said that it was ‘sneaky’ lodging the DA on December 23, just before Christmas. ‘Everyone’s on holidays,’ he said. What bothers him more, he says, is that Azzura Holdings have done so as a completely new application, thereby nullifying all the previous objections. ‘Because it’s a completely new and changed DA, all the previous objections no longer apply.
‘Council can’t even look at the old objections, even though it’s exactly the same thing in exactly the same place.’ In Darren’ s latest email he is asking recipients to resend their original objections before January 27. ‘They either don’t know about the new DA or can’t believe they have to do it again,’ he said. continued on page 2
one month at Heart & Soul Health Clubs only
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