THE BYRON SHIRE Volume 26 #24 Tuesday, November 22, 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 23,200 copies every week
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PA D D L I N G I N T H E N E U R A L S T R E A M
Big talent found in a small town Hans Lovejoy
Police blitz Byron Bay Two joints seized at drumming circle
The iconic village of Mullumbimby is once again again gearing up to host the Mullum Music Festival. The four-day event commences Thursday November 24, and director Glenn Wright says everyone is invited. ‘Thankfully this is not a gated festival,’ he told The Echo, ‘and while most events happen in ticketed venues, everyone can enjoy the atmosphere in town.’ Free performances are planned at Santos’s Heartspace and the Mullum Farmers Market on Friday. ‘Plus there’ll be a live ABC broadcast where they will be interviewing punters and musicians.’
New Orleans parade There are around 100 performances planned for eight of the town’s venues; however, Glenn became particularly animated when talking about the street parade for Sunday, which starts from Heritage Park at 11am. ‘A second-line street parade is From left, Amelia Bustlebottom and Orville Lepht (aka Valley Lipcer and Paul Blay of Roundabout Theatre) set planned,’ he says. ‘We’ve been lucky their controls for the heart of the sun; unfortunately this time they fell a little short, but will make the Big Mullum to get some top players such as Greg Music Festival Street Parade next Saturday. Aleka and Neil Johnon’s brass and drums will be supported by a cast of continued on page 2 thousands in the carnivale-like parade. Photo Jeff ‘Wing And A Pear’ Dawson
A massive police presence in Byron Bay since Friday has left many wondering ‘why?’. However the operation’s huge expense has now thankfully been justified after two joints were discovered. Local activist and peace advocate Harsha Prabhu told The Echo exclusively he was approached by an adorable puppy attached to a man in uniform while he participated in a drumming circle on Main Beach. ‘I said it was for medical purposes,’ he said. ‘I told the officer I rolled them with damiana, which appeared to confuse him; however, he noted that down.’ Mr Prabhu says he was given a warning, and says he ‘learned his lesson.’ Along with horse-mounted police, dog squads, riot vans, a prison bus and RBT stations, police were also seen enjoying Byron’s many attractions such as fine dining restaurants and pubs and clubs. It is unclear if their holiday is connected to schoolies week. Q See editorial page 10
Four Corners anchor brings gravitas to markets debate bimby Community Market, Byron Farmers Market, New Brighton The ABC’s Kerry O’Brien will chair a Farmers Market and the Byron Arforum over Council’s draft policy on tisan Market. the Shire’s markets. The Walkley Award-winning jour- Result of legal advice The message from the mayor and nalist will facilitate a public meeting on Monday December 5 at the Byron Council staff, however, is that the Community Centre, and it comes just policy is a result advice from Crown after Council’s release of its conten- Lands and legal advice. ‘Council had requested if a licence tious policy this week. Public concerns have been raised holder could be defined as an incorthat it will negatively affect local pro- porated community-based non-profit ducers and divert market revenue to organisation,’ says mayor Barham. ‘Unfortunately the Crown Lands Council and the state government. The policy applies to all markets Division and Council’s solicitors held on Council-owned land and could not support this request and Crown Reserves managed by Council. on their advice, Council have amendThey are the Byron Community ed the draft market policy and have Markets, Bangalow Market, Bruns- placed it on public exhibition.’ However, said Mayor Barham, the wick Community Market, MullumHans Lovejoy
draft Expression of Interest requires all applicants to demonstrate how their market proposal delivers social benefit and public value to Byron Shire. In a rare public relations move, Council has released a FAQ that tries to dismiss claims they are ‘just out to make money from the markets.’ It reads, ‘An object of Council’s draft Market Policy is to achieve sufficient funding for maintenance, upgrade of assets and improvements associated with market locations. It is fair that the people or organisations who are utilising public land contribute financially to its maintenance.’ Despite this, the long-standing arrangement between the Byron Community Centre and the markets could still stand, according to the mayor. ‘The state government has a posi-
tion of Crown reserve cross-subsidisation to support maintenance and management,’ she says. ‘The funds derived from the markets would not necessarily all be viewed as funds available as there are costs associated with the organisation of the markets, so the figure is unknown in relation to the return of funds for the management of the area and that will be a matter for consideration in the expression-of-interest process.
Money grab ‘It is starting to look very much like a money grab,’ says Byron market and community centre manager Paul Spooner. ‘Council’s FAQ “propaganda sheet� does not mention the criteria by which tenders will be assessed: 40
per cent weighting given to how much will be paid to the Council as a fee to run the market and five per cent weighting as to amount of support for local organisations. ‘The question should be asked: “Why does Council value making money eight times more than it values supporting the community?� ‘The reality is that any increase in market management fees paid to Council will mean increased stallholder fees and subsequent increased prices for market customers. It appears that nobody wins under this policy except the Council bean counters. ‘We would suggest that the Council’s role in this should be to safeguard the community from the denigration of our markets. continued on page 2
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