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Bangalow show scones
Developer named in ICAC probe Luis Feliu
Queensland coal miner and property developer Brian Flannery, who owns North Byron Beach Resort property (the old Club Med/Becton site), has been named in an Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) investigation. He’s one of seven mining company directors who each stood to make $60 million from a coal-exploration licence deal. ICAC heard last week how Cascade Coal, of which Flannery is a director, acquired the mining rights over several Hunter Valley rural properties in 2009 for $1 million then soon after tried to sell them to White Energy for $500 million. Mr Flannery is also managing director of White Energy. ICAC is examining the circumstances that allowed Labor powerbroker Eddie Obeid and his family to make a staggering $100 million from disgraced former mining minister Ian Macdonald’s decisions. Q This story ran in full in
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Police have confirmed the use of capsicum spray during a melee that took place in Byron on Friday night, but say this is usual for this time of year. Reports of a large group of youth brawling in the CBD will hopefully not set the stage for the schoolies celebrations in coming weeks. It is expected thousands will visit the town during the annual end-of-school party. Tweed Byron LAC Superintendent Stuart Wilkins said that a team of 60 police including police from the Tweed/Byron Local Area Command, assisted by the public order and riot squad, mounted unit, police transport command, traffic and highway patrol command and dog unit, would conduct a high-
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What country show would ever be the same without a scone from the CWA and the chance to buy the latest edition of their wonderful cookbook? Elaine says she served up close to 500 at the Bangalow Show on Saturday. Photo Eve Jeffery
Heritage controls now worthless, says MP Barham Luis Feliu
Protection of Byron Shire’s unique natural environmental and heritage has been put at risk by proposed controversial new planning rules that water down development control plans (DCPs), Byron-based MLC Jan Barham has told parliament.
Byron Shire mayor Simon Richardson agrees the new rules ‘give developers a get-outof-jail-free card if they consider local planning controls “unreasonably restrict development”’. DCPs are the planning instruments used by councils to control the height, bulk and scale of buildings and offer pro-
tection for areas of heritage and environmental significance. Byron Shire Council has resolved to write to MPs Hazzard and Page for their support to prevent the bill becoming law. Q This story ran in full in
head injury, other assaults, lots of stitches and treatment for pepper spray. They were all very drunk. A group of Mullum kids asked us for help and moved back to the Street Cruise bus when I told them to, but we rang the police because it was escalating. They responded really quickly. The fight moved down to the clock corner and became a really big fight. It looked like a 60 police arrive for war zone with police cars everyan ambo in the middle schoolies Thursday where, of the road and kids all over the Deb Pearse from the Byron place. The main problem was Youth Service was in town when older kids from up the coast. things went awry. ‘It was shock‘They just wouldn’t back off.’ ing on Friday night’, says Deb. ‘There were terrible fights. Capsicum spray used The police told me they used Elke van Haandel from the all the capsicum spray they had. Byron Bay Liquor Accord says ‘Staff at accident and emer- that self-imposed strategies are gency said there was a major in place to help combat prob-
visibility policing operation to ensure the safety and security of school leavers, and minimise the impact on the local community. Superintendent Wilkins said that so far this year was no different from last year and he believes that the protagonists in this instance were group of youth from the Tweed area.
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lems. ‘We have voluntarily agreed to not sell bombs, shots or doubles through this period as a measure to assist in the reduction of alcohol-related harm’, she said. ‘As the demographic is so young and at risk of intoxication due to the nature of schoolies weeks we feel it is appropriate we eliminate these drink forms.’ Ms van Haandel says another strategy is that the licensed venues keep in touch with police, the BYS, council, Byron Accommodation and Red Frogs. She also says that earlybirds of some of the expected extra 10,000 schoolies have arrived. ‘We want the schoolies to have fun, know their limits and look out for their friends. Relax and enjoy beautiful Byron Bay with no regrets’.
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Toolies a week early with biff ‘n’ booze Story Eve Jeffery
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The Byron Shire Echo November 20, 2012 3