THE BYRON SHIRE
BONUS Sustainability magazine free with this issue!
Volume 30 #46 Wednesday, April 27, 2016
www.echo.net.au Phone 02 6684 1777 editor@echo.net.au adcopy@echo.net.au 23,200 copies every week
W H E R E P R E T T Y L I E S S O O T H E U G LY T R U T H I N E S S
CAB AUDIT
Mardi Grass is about to smudge Nimbin – p18
Bruns Marina plans too big Around 100 people turned up last Thursday April 21 to discuss plans by the state government to develop the Brunswick Marina, resolving to ask the minister for more consultation. The meeting was organised by the Brunswick Heads Progress Association, responding to concerns that the proposal was too big, particularly the massive carpark and large retail/housing precinct. Progress association president John Dunn told The Echo that many people said that the options given in the survey were inadequate, and not in keeping with town’s Simple Pleasures ethos. ‘It’s a complex issue,’ he said, ‘and a lot of people didn’t know enough about it.’ Local activist Dean Jefferys, who operates the marine conservation yacht Migaloo 2, told The Echo he has been trying to secure a low-cost mooring in the Brunswick Harbour for many years. ‘We don’t need any floating pontoons that will surely increase mooring costs for locals,’ he said, ‘There are only a few extra berths needed to moor the local yachts that have not been able to work with or join the Brunswick Heads Cruising Yacht Club. At least 12 additional secure berths could easily and cheaply be created by simply putting in another six poles with gangways, which would leave the centre of the harbour completely untouched and uncluttered. ‘A new yacht club could be established to look after local needs. The floating marina options presented in the survey are mainly to cater for boats from out of the area. continued on page 2
The Life of Brian Knuckey – p10
All your real estate needs – p19
Eat and be entertained – p27
Remembering war’s terrible toll
netdaily Ballina councillor takes aim at Wicked Campers
Online in
www.echo.net.au/ballina-councillortakes-aim-at-wicked-campers
Crime rates down but DV up: BOSCAR Chris Dobney
Mullumbimby held its annual service to remember the fallen on Monday, while in Byron Bay marchers gathered at 10.30am outside the Beach Hotel in Bay Street, and marched via Jonson Street and Marvell Street to the Anzac Memorial Gates at the corner of Marvell Street and Tennyson Street. The Bangalow parade assembled at Memorial Park, near the roundabout from 10.30am, and marched down Byron Street to the RSL Memorial Hall in Station Street. Photo Jeff Dawson
Tweed and Ballina were the safest places to live on the north coast last year, with crimes committed either at or below the state average in almost all areas. In fact, the latest figures from the Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR) suggest that crime is down across the north coast. But in many cases the drop isn’t by much. And Lismore and Byron still have a stubbornly high incidence of violence and sexual assault. The Richmond-Tweed region reported an increase in domestic violence to 1,075 cases in the year to December last year, compared to 881 the previous year. Non-domestic violence was down marginally to 1,188 incidents from 1,216 in 2014. Sexual assault was up slightly to 203 (from 199) while other categories continued on page 2
Major Ewingsdale precinct before council – again Hans Lovejoy
There have been further developments on the large-scale Ewingsdale seniors/commercial precinct proposal, which staff have tabled in a report for Thursday’s upcoming meeting. And the pressure is on councillors to do something – anything – after they failed to vote on a motion at the last meeting. General manager Ken Gainger said at the
time councilors were in ‘uncharted waters,’ while many fruitless hours were spent debating unsuccessful motions by Crs Cubis and Ibrahim. Sydney-based developers, the Belbecks, are seeking a change of zoning to enable a suburban centre with seniors housing, a medical centre, businesses, restaurants, cafes, and shops. The land surrounds the new hospital, and the Belbecks plan to on-sell the proposition, yet ongoing
issues such as traffic management and ‘who pays for the roundabout’ have dogged it for some time. Additionally there is no overarching planning instrument for the area and residents have been very vocal in opposing the plans.
State approval sought The developers have come good with their promise/threat to ask for state approval instead of dealing with
Council, as it’s ‘taking too long’. Staff say the proponents have asked the planning department to ‘appoint an alternative relevant planning authority (RPA) under the EP&A Act to complete the planning proposal.’ In the report, three senior staffers clearly state that council is the ‘relevant planning authority for this planning proposal.’ They said, ‘As such Council is continued on page 3