Local News Anti-fluoride ‘BS’: Rous Water chair
Foodies’ fun day out
Darren Coyne
Rous Water chair and Ballina councillor Sue Meehan has inadvertently copied Lismore’s Greens councillor Vanessa Ekins into a message intended for Rous general manager Kyme Lavelle. The email was in response to Cr Ekins’ intention to move a motion calling for the suspension of fluoridation until the National Health and Medical Council had completed a review into reducing concentrations of fluoride. ‘Kyme this is just bluff and bluster from the lips of our sworn enemy of fluoride… ‘Do not spend any money complying with Vanessa’s BS!!!!’ The Echo has contacted Cr Sue Meehan for comment.
The arrival of a digger and building materials Tuesday morning onto Belongil Beach has prompted a bid for an injunction against Byron Shire Council’s controversial rock wall. The Environmental Defenders Office (EDO) secured a last-minute hearing in the NSW Land and Environment
Northern NSW Local Health District (NNSW LHD) has released an update on the progression of the Byron Central Hospital, which is expected to be completed in March 2016. The presse release says the ‘two Byron Shire hospitals will be closed when Byron Central Hospital is ready for occupancy.’
As for surgical services, the department says, ‘Following an EOI process that indicated satisfactory interest from private providers NSW Health Infrastructure is conducting a tender process to engage the private sector in potentially providing day surgery for both public and private patients in the Shire.’
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Nice weather for ducks – Mark Labrooy and Darren Robertson had a ‘fun but frantic’ Sample Fest on Saturday at the Bangalow Showground. Not only did the rain forecast not eventuate, it was a perfect day for a picnic and thousands did just that. Photo Jeff Dawson
Rock wall injunction hearing as cranes arrive Luis Feliu
Byron Central Hospital update
Court in Sydney after Council’s lawyers rejected a request for an Environmental Impact Statement to be carried out. Council instead gave the agreed 72-hours notice for starting work on the wall to community lobby group Positive Change for Marine Life, which the EDO is representing. The legal challenge, if successful, could set a precedent across Australia in regard to
how local government deals with coastal erosion from the impact of sea-level rises owing to climate change. Positive Change for Marine Life spokesman Christopher Deimel said the interlocutory injunction was a vital action and showed the Byron community was ‘standing behind local beach protection’. He said Positive Change for Marine Life was also
urgently seeking the community’s financial support for the impending court case if the injunction succeeded, and that donations for the #SaveByronsBeaches campaign could be made to: https://planetfunder.org/projects/savebyronsbeaches. Opponents say the plan was rushed through, despite fears of unforeseen outcomes such as sand and habitat loss.
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Cape Byron Marine Parks under threat The Baird state government has launched a community consultation into its plan to revoke sanctuary protections at two sites in Cape Byron Marine Park – Tyagarah Beach and East Cape Byron. The government is proposing revocations at ten beaches and headlands across four marine parks in NSW. The public consultation period runs until November 13. Nature Conservation
Council campaigns director Daisy Barham says the government’s own scientific audit recommended maintaining the current system of marine parks and enhancing the protection of biodiversity in a number of additional areas. This action will be an important first step in rebuilding the legacy of environmental cuts by the former O’Farrell government. ‘This will be a crucial test
for Mike Baird, who says that protecting our marine environment is important to him. This is his chance to match his talk with action and restore all ten marine sanctuaries. Member for Ballina Tamara Smith (Greens) has added her support, saying, ‘The government is on the wrong side on this issue with 90 per cent of recreational fishers supporting no-take marine sanctuaries.’ ‘Australian and interna-
tional scientists say we need 20–30 per cent of marine areas protected in sanctuaries to ensure the resilience and health of marine life into the future. ‘We have a long way to go in NSW, as seven per cent of the state’s waters are currently fully protected from fishing in marine sanctuaries.’ Submissions can be made at www.marine.nsw.gov.au/ key-initiatives/ocean-beachesand-headlands-assessment.
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The Byron Shire Echo September 9, 2015 3