Health & Beauty
THE BYRON SHIRE Volume 27 #42 Tuesday, April 2, 2013 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
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B E WA R E O F W O R D S A N D I M AG E S
CAB AUDIT
Gigs a Hungry? Good Byron Bay Ben King Inside Why has hydro energy been shelved by governments plenty in the Taste eating out Memorial Easter this Shire – p29 guide – p32 and regulators? – p12 week Surf Classic – p44
Hans Lovejoy
As of of going to press, one of the highlights at this year’s Bluesfest was ex-Led Zeppelin frontman Robert Plant, who gave an outstanding performance on Saturday night. Bluesfest wrapped up on Monday night with Paul Simon and Wilco, among many others. See Jeff Dawson’s pics on page 21. Photo Eve Jeffery
Braving the rain with my one and a half year old, we set out to see what adventures we might find at this year’s Bluesfest. For Emily, the adventure peaked on Friday at the rescue helicopter stand with a bright red balloon. But for me, it was on a baby-free Saturday night with Robert Plant and Iggy Pop. After finding a resting place for my car on the outskirts, I was happy to have the opportunity for a long walk. Navigating through the cattle runs toward the festival was surprisingly easy; I expected a boggy sludge from the thousands of human hooves traipsing in and out but I arrived
clean without the need for gumboots. Upon entry I headed straight for the longest queue in the festival: the friendly Latino coffee stall. They’re worth the wait. My drug of choice would only cost me $4 a pop and leave me functioning the next day. With two iced chais in hand I wander towards former Led Zeppelin front man Robert Plant, sipping my liquid happiness. The crowd was thick. I contemplated joining the resourceful climbers attempting to catch a glimpse on the stands reserved for big ticket spenders. Security was onto it and my opportunity was lost. Anyway, his show was breathtaking. It was then I discovered my friend,
Page 45
Free energy co faces closure over red tape
Robert Plant Brings It On Home for Bluesfest
Crystal Wilkes
Byron Shire Council Notices
recently unencumbered by relationship, hanging out with a couple of top shelf comedians. And so we headed for Iggy Pop. Caught in her slipstream, I found myself right up the front and on the edge of the moshpit. I could go no further – my desire to hang onto the contents of my bag was too strong. I watched with vicarious awe as she dived into the spot where moments earlier Iggy had been crowd surfing, tethered by a cable man at the end of his mic from the stage. At 66 he’s still got it. The mood is contagious when you’re amid a crowd of sweat, pheromones and raw excitement. Suddenly I felt sorry for the Dia-
PERSONAL
LOANS MADE EASY
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mond ticket holders missing out up there in their sanitary confined seats. Overtcome by the toxic concoction of 1000s of sweaty revellers, I forgot to leave early to beat the traffic jam. It took an hour and a half to filter out through the narrow exit. This could easily have been a recipe for disaster, but the generosity, patience and good humour of the carpark and cloakroom volunteers I encountered made for a positive and unforgettable festival experience. Thank you! Q See the video of Bluesfest at
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It’s been revealed that a micro-hydroelectric turbine manufacturing company has been driven to bankruptcy by the state government and the Clean Energy Council (CEC). Furthermore it’s claimed the technology, which can run 24/7 on a source of running water and requires no batteries or inverters, has been largely ignored by politicians from both parties over many years. Five jobs were axed last Monday at the Dorrigo based plant, which was to turn fifteen years old in April. Pelena Energy director Peter Lynch told The Echo that after trying to obtain a production licence in Australia proved too difficult, he resorted to exporting to developing countries overseas. ‘Over the past 15 years,’ he says, ‘we have been forced to focus on high-risk countries like PNG, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu for sales because there has been an active – almost campaign approach – by various Australian state and federal agencies to exclude our technology from the renewable energy mix in Australia. ‘The crunch point has come primarily due to the inability to finish a job in Vanuatu. We shipped a turbine package but it got stuck on a wharf due to a dispute between our client, the Vanuatu Department of Energy and the provincial government agency responsible for the wharves.’ He says the final straw was when another job offer fell through from the Pacific island’s government over a week ago. ‘It’s a great shame that what we do has been proven to work, and is wanted, especially in the Pacific.’ Mr Lynch claims his stainless steel turbines outlast many others available, and include universal sized parts. continued on page 5