THE BYRON SHIRE Volume 31 #04
PAGES 23-25
Wednesday, July 6, 2016
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A PA R L I A M E N T L E F T H A N G I N G I S E V E R YO N E ’ S G A I N
Leunig speaks about Health & Ozgrom Property ducks and life’s broader Healing surf fest! guide existential questions – p16 – p17–21 – p22 – p26–34
netdaily SA seat will decide it says Xenophon
Online in
www.echo.net.au/sa-seat-willdecide-says-xenophon
Labor retains
Best mob named
Greens prefs in Byron increase margin
As part of NAIDOC week, a role call has been announced to recognise great achievements in the Shire. Scott Sentance, pictured front, was awarded Aboriginal educator of the year and community leader of the year for his work creating Indigenous programs at Mullumbimby High School. Other award winners include children of the year, Indira Freire and Kyle Barnes, and youth awards went to Olivia O ‘Sullivan and Coedie McCarthy. Sportsperson is Wyunna Baker. Nigel Stewart, who’s hiding behind Scotty, was awarded for caring for country. Leanne Hamilton is the artist of the year. NAIDOC elder of the year is Uncle Tim Ives, and Chris Larkin received the reconciliation award. Photo Jeff Dawson
Secrecy surrounds Belongil settlement Hans Lovejoy
What’s behind the secret deal between 16 landowners and Council? It’s a question the answer to which may only emerge after it has been agreed to, owing to it being a settlement proposal for a court case which is being brought against Council – behind closed doors. Unless settlement is reached, The Echo understands that the landowners will take Council to the NSW Supreme Court on October 10. Plaintiffs Ralf Lauren 57 Pty Ltd and 15 other un-named Belongil landowners claim Council’s histori-
cal acts, decisions and omissions relating to the works in front of the Jonson Street carpark led to a ‘significant financial loss and diminution in value of their properties.’ There is yet to be a determination of this case, which began in 2010, and the legal standing is unclear owing to a 1988 policy of planned retreat. The Echo asked Council staff if landowners are seeking in their settlement a 1.1km seawall, but is yet to receive a reply. Additionally, Belongil landowner and Brisbane developer John James is yet to reply to that question. The Echo understands he is one of the landowners in the class ac-
tion. Council’s June 29 agenda reads, ‘Council’s solicitors, Council’s Legal Services team and staff have been considering a settlement proposal put by the plaintiffs.’ Former mayor and upper house MLC Jan Barham (Greens) has questioned why Council is being taken to court, ‘when it is surely also a responsibility and therefore a liability of the state government.’ She told The Echo, ‘It is a general understanding that the works at Jonson Street were constructed after the 1974 storms that saw the demolition of the old surf club and continued on page 2
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A total of 86,375 votes – including 3,166 informal – were cast on Saturday in the Richmond electorate, resulting in the return for incumbent Justine Elliot (Labor) on an increased margin. And like the 2013 election, results indicate that a strong Green vote in the Byron Shire decided the vote. The Richmond electorate covers Tweed, Byron and now Ballina shires. The two major parties saw a swing against them, which reflected the trend nationally; Mrs Elliot lost 2.65 per cent, while Nationals candidate Matthew Fraser lost ground of around three per cent on a twocandidate-preferred basis. The Greens polled stronger than ever, with Dawn Walker claiming all but one of Byron Shire’s polling booths. She drew 22.84 per cent of the primary vote, a 7.11 per cent swing to that party.
The Nationals’ Mr Fraser recieved 30,823 votes, or 37.36 per cent, while Labor’s Justine Elliot recieved 25,830 votes, or 31.31 per cent. Minor candidates Angela Pollard from the Animal Justice Party earned 2,515 votes, or 3.05 per cent of the vote. Pauline Hanson’s One Nation party candidate Neil Smith scored 5,014 votes, or 6.08 per cent of the vote. Christian Democratic Party (Fred Nile Group) Russell Kilarney secured 1,191, votes or 1.44 per cent of the vote. In the neighbouring electorate of Page, which includes Lismore, Nationals Kevin Hogan narrowly fended off a strong challenge from Labor’s Janelle Saffin, who held the seat before him. In the latest counting, he won the seat with 52.06 per cent on a two-candidate-preferred basis to Mrs Saffin’s 47.94 per cent. more on the election on page 3
Labor’s Justine Elliot swept to victory on Saturday, retaining the federal seat of Richmond she has held since 2004. Photo Jeff Dawson
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