2016 WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY
THE BYRON SHIRE Volume 30 #51 Wednesday, June 1, 2016
www.echo.net.au Phone 02 6684 1777 editor@echo.net.au adcopy@echo.net.au 23,200 copies every week CAB AUDIT
PAGES 16 – 18
LIKE MONKEYS TYPING SHAKESPEARE
The Echo is not expecting a Christmas card from the National Party state director – p8
Health & More gigs than Healing feature you can point a – p19 – 21 microphone at – p36
Lovely climate for a walk
Residents dispute preferred route for bypass Chris Dobney
A Byron Bay residents’ group that has been investigating the funding procedure for the town’s bypass say Council’s claims that funding was predicated on the Butler Street route are wrong. The Butler Street Community Network (BSCN), assisted by Ballina MP Tamara Smith, put GIPA (freedom of information) requests to several government departments, which they say show there were no such strings placed on state funding for the road. In fact, the group argues,
the terms of reference for the road’s Environmental Impact Study (EIS) included ‘specific instructions to assess the rail corridor alternative route.’ BSCN president Paul Jones said the group was ‘fed up with the constant claims by [Byron Shire] Council, councillors and the media that the funding for this major piece of town infrastructure subject to an EIS was conditional on the Butler Street bypass route.’ ‘If in fact this were true it would amount to a serious case of attempting to predetermine the outcome of an EIS, which is subject to a complex
study of several route options,’ Mr Jones said. He added that, on the contrary, ‘the GIPA investigation has revealed that the RMS strategic business case funding arrangement, while acknowledging Council’s preferred route along Butler Street, clearly confirms that this was not a recommended option as it was proposed that options development continue to refine and implement the project.’ Q The Echo sought comment from Council staff but there was no reply by deadline. Q Full story at www.echo.net.au.
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Greens want details of airport’s toxic chemicals released www.echo.net.au/2016/05/158752/
NSW hits rock bottom with renewables Giles Parkinson
Saturday’s beach walk from Byron Bay to Brunswick Heads raised funds for Community Owned Renewable Energy Mullumbimby (COREM). The group says it is dedicated to setting up community-owned renewable energy projects in the area. Meanwhile COREM’s Renew Fest, to be held June 18 at the Mullum Showgrounds, have announced a ‘zero-waste policy’ for the event. Director Ella Goninan says punters are encouraged to bring their own cups, plates and utensils. A wash station is planned. ‘In the event that some haven’t heard about the waste-free policy, there will be a small secondhand stall in the market area.’ For more information, visit www.renewfest.org.au. Photo Jeff ‘Climatised’ Dawson
Online in
A new report by the Climate Council has highlighted how Labor governments in South Australia and the ACT have encouraged and accelerated the rollout of renewable energy, while coalition governments elsewhere have done little, or have hindered the industry in recent years. The findings should come as no surprise to those with an interest in the industry, and reflect the trend in federal policy areas, where the coalition government brought the large-scale industry to an effective halt after three record years of investment under Labor. But it serves as a timely reminder in the middle of an election campaign about the relative pretensions of conservative and Labor parties on what could still emerge as an important campaign issue. The Climate Council ranked South Australia and ACT as the best-performing states and territories: South Australia will likely source 50 per cent of its electricity needs from wind and solar alone later this year, while the ACT intends to source 100 per cent of its needs from renewable energy by 2020. In NSW, QLD and Victoria, however, fossil fuels such as coal and gas still account for 90 per cent or more of the power supply, and little has changed in recent years. NSW gets the lowest ranking. The Climate Council says its incumbent coalition government has overseen the lowest (and falling) percentage of renewable electricity, low large-scale renewable capacity
per person, no renewable energy target and low levels of rooftop solar. The Northern Territory, also ruled by the coalition, is the other to receive a ‘laggard’ rating. It has no renewable-energy target or policies, and appears to be actively discouraging renewables in favour of gas-fired generation. QLD and Victoria have been ruled by coalition governments for much of the past five years, and also rank poorly, but the report says that at least these states – now run by Labor governments – have signalled their intent to increase their share of renewable energy through targets and policy. QLD has a 50 per cent renewableenergy target for 2030 – the same as federal Labor – while Victoria is also putting together its strategy to lift renewables and shift from brown coal. Of the other states, Western Australia – also controlled by conservative parties – is showing signs of renewed interest and will unveil its renewable energy strategy later this year. But its energy minister Mike Nahan has talked of an energy future dominated by solar and storage, and has ordered the shutdown of 380MW of excess fossil fuel capacity. Tasmania is also run by a conservative government, and has the highest level of renewable energy at an average 95 per cent, but this is largely due to its enormous and longstanding hydro resources. Yet its cable to the mainland recently broke and forced the state to turn back to gas-fired generation and install costly and dirty diesel power. Q Giles Parkinson is from reneweconomy.com.au
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