THE BYRON SHIRE
BAN NGALOW BILLLYCART DERBY
Volume 29 #48 Wednesday, May 13, 2015
www.echo.net.au
Sun Su nday 17 May May
Phone 02 6684 1777 editor@echo.net.au adcopy@echo.net.au 23,200 copies every week
See pages 14 & 15
P R E B U D G E T Y E T P O S T A P O C A LY P T I C
CAB AUDIT
Will Hockey’s What’s new Living the Gretal & Jackie second budget be in town? Good Life are very funny more popular? – p10 – p16–18 – p19 women – p21
While you were art – p26–27
Online in netdaily Court win throws Brunswick Heads park plan into doubt www.echo.net.au/2015/05/court-win-throwsbrunswick-heads-park-plan-into-doubt/
Youth discarded A week for mums and midwives by state, fed govts Hans Lovejoy
The alarming trend throughout wealthy western countries to axe essential services that assist the most vulnerable is now hitting Byron Shire. For 26 years, Byron Youth Service (BYS) has run programs, courses, events and activities which have nurtured talent and provided life skills for young people. With a meagre budget and dedicated staff, they have supported the area’s young adults by offering alternatives to binge drinking and drugs. They have provided mentorship and guidance. But funding cuts by both state and federal governments now threaten their ability to provide these services. ‘We are now in crisis time’, says youth worker Deb Pearse, ‘and it’s down to the wire.’ One of Deb’s many jobs is running five groups a week, both for boys and girls, out of The Cottage in Mullumbimby. She says because of government funding cuts, she is the sole worker at The Cottage, where she provides individual support and case management, runs programs and activities and liaises with the school, families and the community. ‘At The Cottage I try to work with other agencies as much as possible, but it’s hard. There are lots of changes and restrictions happening, so we all have to work our way around them to actually do what we do. ‘I take drug and alcohol sessions with all my groups, with an Intra
worker from the Buttery outreach service, and Tweed Sexual Health Service for sessions on sexual health. ‘Ideally we would love to have the funding for co-facilitators; it has been the most productive model until this year. All groups also have a meal together at The Cottage; this adds to costs but is essential for participants who, more often that not, haven’t had breakfast.’
Street Cruise reduced Outreach program Street Cruise provides early prevention and assistance for young people on Byron’s streets where binge drinking, vandalism and violence may occur. And while young people, police, businesses and the community generally speak highly of the service, it has been reduced to just a Friday night service. Deb says, ‘Our best model for this program is a Friday and Saturday night service, as well as during festivals, holiday periods and special events.’ So what else has been lost? According to Stephanie Sims from BYS, Links to Learning is gone, which included hospitality, events management and fashion courses. They were funded by the state government. Stephanie says, ‘They were aimed at kids who were not working or at school. ‘They were accredited and they were free.’ Another vital service which is about to end is the federally funded Youth Connections. Deb says, ‘Youth Connections worked with young people at risk continued on page 2
Two big days in a week! International Midwives Day was celebrated on May 5 while mums got their love on May 10. Locally, the Mullumbimby Community Birthing Service midwives celebrated in the early hours with the homebirth of baby Joshua. Pictured is mum Yonit and baby Joshua, with bachelor of midwifery student Sariya Austin (left) and midwife Ti Harrison (right). Photo Eve Jeffery
Diesel train plan meets opposition Sunrise residents in Byron Bay say they have significant concerns with plans to run a World War II heritage diesel train from the North Byron Beach resort into Byron’s CBD. Among those concerns is that it will be an exclusive service for the operator’s patrons, owing to only a two-way station being constructed. The soon-to-be restored train will be operated by Elements Of Byron, a new boutique villa resort which is being developed on the North Byron Beach Resort at the end of Bayshore Drive. The rudimentary website for
Elements Of Byron claims the resort will be Byron’s ‘first world-class beachfront resort.’ The Echo previously reported that the 3.4km railway project will come in just under $1m, according to the resort’s manager Jeremy Holmes. At the time he said the 100-seater two-car currently being restored is, ‘Technically not light rail, but is regarded as lighter than normal rail.’ A one-way passenger fare will be approximately $3, and the project is expected to be completed later this year. In December 2013, Council
BYRON BAYClubSERVICES CLUB membership now SWIPE AND SAVE $$$$
CLUB MEMBERSHIP ONLY $5!
MEMBERS SPECIAL $6.90 BURGER & CHIPS!
means so much more!
voted unanimously to support the project, which is under state government jurisdiction. It also gained the support of Trains On Our Track (TOOT). And with the physical work expected to start in August, Elements Of Byron recently posted a letter to residents in the area.
Frequency of service yet to be determined It stated that frequency of the service is yet to be determined; however, will be based around demand. continued on page 5
JOIN THE BYRON BAY SERVICES CLUB AND YOU WILL RECEIVE:
• Discounted drinks • Earn bonus points • Discounted bistro meals • Members benefits handbook – full of • Discounted cafe meals and coffee discounts with selected local businesses
South End of Jonson Street, Byron Bay www.byronbayservicesclub.com.au Phone (02) 6685 6878 Fax (02) 6685 8174 Email info@byronbayservicesclub.com.au