THE BYRON SHIRE
SCHOOL HOLIDAYS
Volume 30 #44 Wednesday, April 13, 2016
www.echo.net.au Phone 02 6684 1777 editor@echo.net.au adcopy@echo.net.au 23,200 copies every week
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The Sausage Got rural land? Listen The Echo reported Factory had a up – there’s Council rail cuts and protests meltdown! – p7 plans afoot – p9 back in 1990 – p14
Online in netdaily Airport managers urged to release contamination details www.echo.net.au/airport-managersurged-release-contamination-details
State govt’s big plans for Bruns marina
Man stabbed in Byron park
The Brunswick Heads bar may be known as one of the most treacherous to cross in Australia, but that hasn’t stopped the NSW government from planning a large development at the Bruns marina. The Brunswick Heads Progress Association are urging residents to have their say over plans by the NSW Department of Primary Industries – Lands (DPI-Lands), which include potentially 68 boattrailer parking spaces and 160 car parking spaces. A re-development could also see the co-op include a mix of retail/ commercial facilities and include up to 40 boutique tourist apartments. The department says a master plan for the Brunswick Heads Boat Harbour precinct is required owing to it being a ‘very popular boat harbour that has evolved over many years in an ad hoc way.’
Anthony John Norris, 48, has been charged with wounding with intent to cause harm after another 48-year old man was found with multiple stab wounds in a popular Byron Bay park at just before midday Sunday April 10.
Car parking issues But according to the Brunswick Heads Progress Association, the proposed plan would effectively turn most of the open space available into car parking. Progress association president John Dunn says with concerns over the size and scope of the plans, the association will hold a public meeting Thursday April 21 at the Memorial Hall from 7pm to inform and to encourage residents to participate. Mr Dunn says it’s imperative for residents to complete the survey ‘to ensure the master plan for the Brunswick Heads Boat Harbour reflects continued on page 2
Chris Dobney
Sick Bruns bowls A record number of over 200 participants and fans attended the annual Battle at Bruns Skate competition on Sunday. Held at the Brunswick Heads Skate Park, it was part of National Youth Week and was a collaboration by the Byron Youth Service, Byron Shire Council, Byron Bay Skateboard School and Truckstop. Co-organiser Lotte Boer said, ‘This year’s winners were Haylie Powell in the girls division, Brayten Pringault in under-8s, Karlin O’Halloran in the under-12s, Jyrah McPherson in under-16s. Quaid Munson won the opens and Trevor Ward the masters division.’ Pictured is Bibi Bradbury putting wheels to the wall. Photo Jeff Dawson
Multiple wounds Police were called to the scene of the stabbing at Butler Street Reserve. According to paramedics who also attended the scene, the victim was covered in so much blood it was impossible to count the wounds to his chest, legs and stomach. The victim was taken to Byron Bay Hospital and later airlifted to the Gold Coast Hospita in a critical condition. Norris faced Tweed Heads local court Monday and was refused bail and will face court again on June 21.
Five Byron councillors ‘betray community’ Former mayor calls for intervention over a potential shire ‘rock-walled from end to end’ Luis Feliu & Hans Lovejoy
Community members were outraged by Thursday’s decision by Byron Shire Council to proceed with a controversial $15m plan for the Belongil rock wall to stretch for a kilometre, with a walkway along the top. The Community Alliance for Byron Shire (CABS) say the move, under the Draft Coastal Zone Management Plan Byron Bay Embayment, is ‘woefully lacking in detail’.
CABS says it represents 10 community groups and spokesman Donald Maughan said, ‘The council motion promotes a preferred plan to build a rock wall at Belongil stretching for a kilometre with a walkway along the top – presumably because it will be needed when the beach disappears because of accelerated erosion caused by the wall.’ The latest approval was rammed through by the National Partyaligned Crs Sol Ibrahim, Alan
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Hunter, Di Woods and Chris Cubis and supported by Greens ‘turncoat’ Rose Wanchap, who quit the party shortly after being elected.
No surfing/tourism impacts assessed The draft will also be put before the community as an incomplete document, according to staff. Mr Maughan said, ‘This proposal does not count the social or
environmental costs or the impacts on tourism and public amenity. ‘They want this CZMP signed, sealed and delivered by the end of June and it is woefully lacking on every level. ‘Council has refused to even consider the mouth of the Belongil estuary and the impacts on it of their proposed works, yet it is a key part of both the coastline and the beach. ‘Their preferred option will continued on page 2
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