Only 14 more sleeps and 1 more Echo till Christmas!
THE BYRON SHIRE Volume 27 #27 Tuesday, December 11, 2012 Phone 02 6684 1777 Fax 02 6684 1719 editor@echo.net.au adcopy@echo.net.au www.echo.net.au 23,200 copies every week
Inside this week
NOT THE 12.12.12 EDITION
CAB AUDIT
New gene Fiery political theory by Dr showdown with residents over CSG – p11 Lipton – p9
Christmas gift ideas – p20-21
Local Arts scene – p29– 31
Best gig guide in print – p33
Online news poll Remembering surfing luminaries hijacked by proCSG investors …with a celebration of Hans Lovejoy
It’s been revealed that in late July this year, coal-seam gas shareholders successfully skewed a Northern Star online poll and personally targeted its online producer’s Facebook account. Journalist Dominic Feain told The Echo that the poll asked who was in favour of CSG. ‘By deleting cookies and re-voting they managed to flood the poll with pro-CSG votes,’ Mr Feain said. ‘The anti-CSG lobby counter-spammed before we pulled it at about 12,000 votes – usually we’ll get a couple of hundred.’ Mr Feain added, ‘It appeared to me to be attempted share-ramping. ‘We tracked their IP addresses and accounts and reported them to police and the ASX but nothing eventuated.’
Conspired publicy Remarkably, the entire action transpired publicy on online stock market forum www.hotcopper.com.au, where members both conspired to spam the online poll and posted instructions on how to skew the results. The members, who are Metgasco investors, also investigated Mr Feain’s background while other comments made reference to CSG-Free activists as ‘full time bludgers… while the rest of us actually spend our time earning a real living.’ Known as ‘trolls’ in internet parlance, members were also scathing of residents’ behaviour at the recent public meeting in Lismore and local media reports on the issue. The full exchange is published – as of going to press – at http://bit.ly/UOVOkM. Metgasco shares have been on a downward slide since mid October and recorded its lowest price ever for the year at 15.5 cents a share last Thursday, according to www.asx.com.au.
art and board-making
Jack Mantel’s timber ‘art’ boards, Rusty’s new book Turning Point, and Richard Harvey’s art and surfboards were launched at VSTR on Friday by renowned free-surfer Dave Rastovich. The exhibition runs until this coming Friday at the VSTR shop at 15 Lawson Street, Byron Bay. Photo Jeff Dawson
Byron Shire Council Notices Pages 48
Plea for witnesses to brutal Byron attack Chris Dobney
Witnesses are still being sought for the horrific bashing of Byron Beach Café’s head chef, Nathan Foord. The 32-year-old Byron resident now has two plates in his jaw, serious concussion following three bleeds on the brain, and six teeth missing after a violent attack in Jonson Street, Byron Bay, on the morning of December 1. Nathan says he has no memory of the attack or of the man who delivered a single roundhouse kick to the face that caused him to fall unconscious onto the pavement. Nathan’s sister Nikki and Beach Café owner Ben Kirkwood are imploring anyone who may have witnessed the incident to come forward. ‘This is very sad and frightening for us all and yet another case that supports our calls for better CCTV on our streets,’ Mr Kirkwood said, who is also vice-president of Byron’s business chamber, Byron United. ‘This also needs to serve as a warning for all of us, our friends, and staff to be very careful out there.’
Wilsons Creek residents asked to help fix landslip Hans Lovejoy
Residents affected by the Wilsons Creek Road landslip are being invited by Council to join a Project Reference Group (PRG) to help facilitate quick repair to the road. The announcement comes after a recent community meeting and a successful notice of motion (NOM) by Cr Duncan Dey at Thursday’s Council meeting. Council is aiming to hold its first PRG meeting this month. But the vote wasn’t a unanimous one; Cr Diane Woods voiced her concerns with, ‘This is the worse case of micro-management I have seen and an insult to our staff. ‘They are responsible for this. It
won’t speed up the work…’ Cr Woods asked staff if a PRG would assist in getting the project done quicker. Acting GM Phil Holloway replied that any conflict within the group could lead to delays, which would be concern for staff. At the meeting, Cr Dey said, ‘After 11 months not a lot is happening. The longer it goes on there will be more risks. We have been lucky nothing has happened so far.’ Councillors Duncan Dey, Rose Wanchap and Basil Cameron will form the PRG, along with six residents who are yet to be appointed. Representatives will also be invited from Roads and Maritime Services (RMS), other state authorities and members of parliament.
Cr Dey said the the PRG would offer expertise where it could, assist in preparing a project time-frame, consider options for earliest completion and advise on risks to the community in keeping the road closed to various staged load limits. He also requested that Council write to relevant state government departments asking for assistance with opening of fire trails or tracks that could be used in an emergency, facilitation of school transport arrangements and provision of water. ‘Our united approach will deliver a strong message to state government that we need rapid support and funding to restore full access to WilsonCreek,’ Cr Dey said. Mayor Simon Richardson said the
PRG was an opportunity to combine Council and community commitment and showed faith in completing the restoration works as quickly as possible. ‘The establishment of a PRG demonstrates Council’s willingness to take up the community’s offer to be involved with the works and create a forum where people can converse and share their skills. ‘Council supports the abilities and expertise in both staff and the wider community to get things done and done well,’ Mayor Richardson said. The slip occurred before the primary school on January 26 this year after heavy rain and has severely restricted traffic, including water deliveries and emergency services.
Gifts that enrich
Christmas Special
10-50% OFF Everything! December 12th – 19th Only
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