THE BYRON SHIRE
BOOK REVIEWS
Volume 28 #03 Tuesday, June 25, 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 CAB AUDIT North Coast news daily: www.echonetdaily.net.au
Inside this week
Mungo has the unions in his sights – p10
PAGE 25
I AM BRADLEY MANNING AND SO IS MY WIFE
An avalanche of letters with wild opinions – p11
All about our local circus – p22–23
Feds splash cash
Tides and markets this week – p39
Byron Shire Council Notices Page 45
NAIDOC’s week of fun
Byron taxi rank to get CCTV, meanwhile Council misses out on a state loan due to poor finances Hans Lovejoy
Closed Circuit TV (CCTV) funding has been announced and will be installed at the Jonson Street taxi rank, with funding coming from the federal government and monitoring by Byron Bay Taxis. Local federal MP Justine Elliot revealed the $60,000 last Friday under the Taxi Security Scheme, which aims to improve the safety of taxi drivers at ranks where there is a high incidence of crime. Byron Shire Council will facilitate the venture and Byron Bay Taxis confirmed with The Echo they would monitor the network. According to Mrs Elliot, the project includes an upgrade of existing lighting, installation of additional street and laneway lighting in the areas around the taxi rank, and installation of digital CCTV, with three cameras and a network video recorder workstation with potential for a wireless internet link to the Byron Bay taxi office to enable remote viewing and control at the Byron Bay taxi rank. She says the scheme is an expansion of the successful Safer Suburbs program that has funded 65 projects worth more than $20 million since 2007 to improve community safety.
Shovel ready cash Ms Elliot also announced that $149,681 will soon be available for shovel-ready projects in Byron Shire. The money is earmarked for community infrastructure, and Ms Elliot says the money could go towards building and renewing sporting facilities, libraries, town halls,
playgrounds and childcare facilities. ‘It will allow Byron Shire Council to generate new economic activity and jobs, while delivering infrastructure now and for the future,’ Mrs Elliot said. Mayor Simon Richardson told The Echo that he has ‘requested a memo from staff as to the details and potential projects.’ When asked if the funding could be reviewed should the Coalition win September’s election, Cr Richardson said it ‘should be allocated before Abbott gets his hands on the wheel so that part should be OK.’
Council misses out Meanwhile, Byron Council’s poor financial position has been blamed for its failure to be included in a loan from the states that would ‘kickstart infrastructure backlogs’. NSW minister for local government and Byron resident Don Page announced the Local Infrastructure Renewal Scheme (LIRS) was still on offer for NSW Councils, however Cr Richardson says Byron’s financial position was not strong enough to be considered. Cr Richardson told The Echo it was a ‘reminder that we can take out a loan to pay for things that were often cost shifted onto us in the first place.’ ‘It’s great to hear of the millions being allocated to Councils to the south, but the silence about Byron Shire was deafening. The loan scheme is a good one; however, councils must be eligible to obtain them and those, like us, whose financial situation is ordinary cannot continued on page 2
James, Shanikwa and Shamiyah will have plenty to keep them entertained in NAIDOC Week. Story & photo Eve Jeffery
NAIDOC (National Aboriginal and Islander Day Observance Committee) week July 7–14 celebrates the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. This year the theme for NAIDOC week is – We Value The Vision: Yirrkala Bark Petitions 1963. The theme celebrates the 50th anniversary of the presentation of the Yirrkala Bark petitions to federal parliament. In August 1963, the Yolngu people of Yirrkala in northeast Arnhem Land sent two bark petitions – framed by
traditional ochre paintings of clan designs – to the Australian House of Representatives. The petitions protested against the Commonwealth’s granting of mining rights on land excised from Arnhem Land reserve and sought the recognition by the Australian Parliament of the Yolngu people’s traditional rights and ownership of their lands. Activities during the week of July 7–14 include a NAIDOC Community Day at Mullum Neighbourhood Centre on Tuesday, a film night at Byron Community Centre on Wednesday and the traditional NAIDOC walk and Family Day at Peace Pole on Thursday. For more visit www.arakwal.com.au.
10,000-signature CSG petition presented to NSW govt A 10,000-strong petition against coal seam gas was presented to state parliament last Thursday by Greens MP Jamie Parker. It comes when any petition with ten thousand signatures automatically becomes tabled in parliament. Petitioners are requesting that the northern rivers region be declared a coal seam gas, tight sands gas and
unconventional gas mining free zone and that all current licences and/or leases that allow any such activity be revoked and no such new licences or leases be granted. Mr Parker told ABC radio that it was ‘ironic’ it fell to him, a Sydneybased MP, to present the petition. ‘It is ironic that I’m the one that is presenting that voice, not their
local members because the local members simply don’t support the community on this issue.’ Mr Parker also spoke in support of the community movement in parliament. ‘It’s inspiring to see such a strong consensus emerge in steadfast opposition to this damaging industry,’ he said.
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