THE BYRON SHIRE Volume 25 #39 Tuesday, March 8, 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 23,000 copies every week
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Splendour 2011 returns to QLD
At the movies with Jack
Jack Thompson holds court with J’aimee Skippon-Volke, the Byron Bay Film Festival’s director, filmmaker James Khehtie and Byron film entrepreneur Robert Raymond. Jack stared in The Telegram Man, which James produced and directed, and was screened to an enthusiastic audience on Saturday. The festival continues to screen films each day and night this week at the Byron Community Centre until the wrap party on Sunday. Photo Jeff Dawson
The push for affordable housing Ray Moynihan
Local councils could set levels of affordable housing in major residential developments, under legislation the Greens will bring to the next state parliament. The party unsuccessfully pushed for similar laws two years ago, but with the predicted demise of Labor on March 26, the Greens now have a chance of holding the balance of power in the state’s Upper House, boosting their influence over government actions.
W 8! OS ENE PNA O GE 2 FIL
The affordable housing strategy is part of a package of planning reforms, including banning corporate donations repealing the controversial Part 3A of the Planning Act which allows councils to be over-ruled, and creating an independent commission to decide on big developments.
MP Don Page’s response A likely cabinet minister after the election, the Nationals Don Page, told The Echo the coalition’s policy announcements on affordable housing had focused on Sydney, but he would
personally push for land already earmarked by council for release to be made available more quickly. Citing the West Byron plans as an example, Mr Page said he would generally like to see up to one quarter of the houses in major developments set aside as affordable, as long as infrastructure was adequate. Karin Kolbe, independent candidate for Ballina – which includes Byron – agreed councils should play a role in planning affordable housing, and pointed to the importance of continued on page 2
This year’s Splendour in the Grass festival will again be held in Woodfordia, near Woodford, in south-east Queensland. Organisers have confirmed that it will be held across three days from Friday July 29 to Sunday July 31, and added that any damage inflicted on the Woodfordia site during January’s devastating floods throughout SE QLD will be well and truly repaired by the time of the festival. ‘We wouldn’t be announcing Woodfordia as the location for the 2011 Splendour In the Grass festival if we weren’t completely confident that was the case,’ said Splendour’s co-producers Jessica Ducrou and Paul Piticco. This will be the second year that Splendour in the Grass will be held at the Woodfordia location. The approval process for the festival’s site at North Byron Parklands in Yelgun is currently under NSW Department of Planning review. ‘The NSW Department of Planning are still processing the North Byron Parklands application for a sustainable cultural arts and music event venue,’ Matt Morris, General Manager, North Byron Parklands told The Echo. ‘It is hoped that they will make a decision shortly.’
Come along to The Echo’s Affordable Housing Forum Affordable Housing Forum: Wednesday March 16, 6:30 for 7pm Byron Community Centre, free entry The Echo’s first forum for 2011 will explore the depth of the housing affordability crisis, and debate ways to address it. The night will feature a presentation by Australia’s foremost affordability advocate, Professor Julian Disney, chair of the National Affordable Housing Summit, and former head of the Australian Council of Social Services, who is being brought to Byron with
support from North Coast Community Housing and Apartments Inn. If you’re experiencing the crisis first hand, come and share your story, and join with others who are helping shape the community’s response to this longstanding problem. The forum will be chaired by author and Echo reporter Ray Moynihan, and will include the participation of key players in the local housing sector.
enrich your spirit perhaps the most tranquil tourist attraction on the East Coast and a wonderful place to spend a couple of mellow hours… Brisbane News, December 2010. www.crystalcastle.com.au Open 7 Days 10am-5pm (NSW time) 81 Monet Drive, Mullumbimby 40 mins from Tweed Heads 20 mins from Byron Bay (02) 6684 3111
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