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THE BYRON SHIRE Volume 26 #48 Tuesday, May 15, 2012 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
Inside this week
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CAB AUDIT
pages 18-19
T H E R E A R E N O P L A N S T O I N VA D E B A L L I N A O R A N N E X T W E E D
BU, councillors Mandy loves disagree on a protest amalgamation – p2 – p23
Byron Shire Council Notices
Mungo bangs Local artists on about federal showcase – politics – p10 heavy folk – p25
Will be published in The Echo from next week
Council’s 2012-13 belttightening budget
Rally calls for gas-free region
Rates and childcare are up, community donations cut Chris Dobney
BSC has also taken $48,000 from its community donations allocation, leaving it with just $30,800 to disburse this year. And much of this is already committed to regular donations, previously resolved upon by Council to groups including the Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter and Brunswick Valley Rescue, Council spokesperson confirmed.
The Byron Shire Council (BSC) has announced massive cuts to community donations and an increase in childcare costs to balance its 2012–13 budget, on top of a 3.6 per cent rate hike. But Council has defended the budget, with a media spokesperson saying, ‘Council has worked hard to create a continued on page 3 budget that continues to provide important community services like roads, without placing too much pressure on Have your say household finances.’ on the budget at the information In what BSC’s general manager evenings being held at Council’s Graeme Faulkner described as ‘a beltchambers in Mullum on May 22 and tightening budget’, average residential Byron Community Centre May 29. ratepayers will be slugged an addiThe 2012/13 budget, fees and An estimated seven thousand colourful, vocal and committed protesters gathered in Riverside Park in Lismore after tional $40 in the coming financial year. charges and integrated planning marching through the streets on Saturday. Photo Jeff ‘Naturally Gassed’ Dawson The spokesperson also emphasised documents are on public that the average, total rate increase will exhibition until June 5. communities to make a stand by de- might not be a good investment; be less than $4 a week for a ratepayer. Luis Feliu claring their areas CSG free was be- they’re worried costs are blowing out A big rally in Lismore on Saturday ing duplicated in villages and streets because they can’t get skilled labour saw communities across the northern around Lismore ‘and spreading into as the industry is growing too quickly in Australia,’ Mr Hutton said. He said rivers making a strong stand against Kyogle and the Tweed’. one company in Queensland had a coal-seam gas (CSG) exploration and Fight of our lives cost blowout in the past few months mining. Lismore mayor Jenny Dowell from $22 billion to $34 billion. The Rock the Gate rally was part As a result, mining companies were of a wider move to make the entire warned that ‘we may have the fight northern rivers region a no-go zone of our lives on our hands’ against the ‘whingeing’ to governments to regiant mining companies who will move regulatory hurdles that they for the CSG gas industry. After a colourful march through ‘throw money’ and legal actions to claimed were making them unviable. ‘But people across Queensland and Lismore’s CBD, an estimated 7,000 counter anti-CSG protests. But she people – from all walks of life – were said they would be hearing ‘loud and NSW are jumping up and down, so told how recent actions by sev- clear’ from these communities the governments are having to enforce eral small communities around the message: ‘you are not wanted here so them.’ Mr Hutton said the ‘kernel of resistance’ of the CSG protests was northern rivers declaring themselves please go away’. President of the national Lock the locking the gate to mining compaCSG-free had ‘gone viral’ and spread Gate Alliance, Drew Hutton, said the nies. ‘It seems everywhere in NSW to many other towns in NSW. CSG Free communities organiser campaign that he’d founded two years they’ve locked the gate, and you peoAnnie Kia told Saturday’s rally that it ago at blockades against CSG mining ple here have locked your town street was the ‘birth of a new movement’ by in southeast Queensland was start- by street,’ he said to loud cheers. communities which were ‘mobilising ing to take its toll as investors and Q See the video of this story at incredibly fast’ to fight coal-seam gas bankers behind mining companies Funny man Arj Barker will be donating profits from his upcoming stand-up mining expansion. Ms Kia said it the became concerned. gigs to the Northern Rivers Alliance of Lock the Gate. His run of dates start ‘They’re worried coal-seam gas Go to echonetdaily.net.au grass-roots strategy of empowering Friday May 25. For more visit www.byroncentre.com.au. Photo Jeff Dawson
Laughing at the CSG absurdity
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