The Good Life
THE BYRON SHIRE Volume 31 #14 Wednesday, September 14, 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 26-27 REFUSES TO FEED THE FEARS
Mungo examines Nikki Hill comes Dastyari’s awful to Bluesfest – Q&A week – p8 – p30
Women like Ellen gigs with Mandy – p34
Arts feature – p22
Online in
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Check for all the election updates www.echo.net.au
Big Swing Conservatives thrashed at polls
Newly elected Greens councillors and supporters rallied on Saturday night at Mullum’s Poinciana Cafe celebrating the news of the big win. Photo Jeff Dawson
Rail trail lobby group backflips on promise to work collaboratively Hans Lovejoy
Northern Rivers Rail Trail (NRRT) have reneged on plans to co-operate with re-elected mayor Simon Richardson and rail advocate group Trains On Our Tracks (TOOT) for a shared multi-modal use of the disused Byron Shire section of the railway. Mayor Richardson convened a public meeting on August 25 between the two opposing parties, with all agreeing to explore the possibility of shared use and a feasibility study. And while the ‘Byron Line’ proposal was presented as an opportunity to work for a common goal, it did not include funding from either government or the private sector. A press release by NRRT now ac-
cuses mayor Simon Richardson of saying he would support their plans for a rail trail from Billinudgel to Crabbes Creek, but voted against the idea at the last Council meeting. That Council meeting was on the same day as the Byron Line meeting. It reads, ‘Simon [Richardson’s] actions have given us no choice but to withdraw our co-operation with the Byron Line proposal. NRRT fear the Byron Line proposal will result in [the] sale of the corridor to private interests.’ NRRT’s decision to reject collaboration comes just after a press release from Don Page, a former NSW National Party MP, who is now chair of the northern rivers Regional Development Australia (RDA).
He threatened the electorate by claiming any attempt to find unity and a shared use will result in the infrastructure being sold off. Mr Page said, ‘The northern rivers region needs a united commitment to the rail trail uncontaminated by unrealistic ideas that will only ever serve to undermine a viable rail trail.’ ‘If the region can’t agree to support the rail trail, it’s inevitable sections of the corridor would be sold off. It’s a case of use it or lose it!’ Mayor Simon Richardson told The Echo, ‘It is well known that Don Page is a long-term supporter of a sole rail trail solution for our rail corridor, which would negate the possibility of any other transport options continued on page 3
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Voters have given progressives a clear majority at Saturday’s Council elections, ending a four-year tumultuous term led by conservatives. In both the mayoral and councillor races, the Greens were the dominant force at voting booths across Byron Shire. The majority of voters were faithful to returning Greens mayor Simon Richardson in the north, south and middle of the Shire. The likely lineup – as of going to press – is all four Greens, Our Sustainable Future’s Basil Cameron, Country Labor’s Paul Spooner and National Party-aligned Alan Hunter. The remaining spots may end up going to Country Labor’s Jan Hackett and Cate Coorey from Community Byron; however, Gail Fuller and Rose Wanchap are still believed to be contenders. The Echo understands the electoral commission will complete counting by Friday.
Mayoral vote Richardson took all 11 booths on first preference votes, including at Sydney Town Hall, and won the pre-poll counts at Ballina, Mullumbimby, Byron Bay and Sydney. As of Tuesday morning electoral commission figures show that Ocean Shores had yielded him 1,020 votes, the two Byron Bay booths 1,227 in total and Mullumbimby 1,192. His closest mayoral contender, Labor candidate Paul Spooner, picked up 450 votes in Byron Bay, 605 at Ocean Shores and 357 in Mullumbimby. Alan Hunter, who
had run for the National Party in the 2010 federal election, took 352 at Ocean Shores, 202 at Mullumbimby and 194 at Byron Bay. Close behind Hunter in total votes, Our Sustainable Future’s Basil Cameron received 310 at Ocean Shores, 331 at Mullumbimby and 159 at Byron Bay. And close to Cameron’s home in the hinterland, Federal (Jasper Corner Hall) gave him 93 votes, ahead of Spooner’s 70 and Hunter’s 41 – but no contest to Richardson’s 347. In the councillor contest, the Greens group ticket took all booths with the Country Labor ticket second. Cameron’s OSF and Hunter’s Byron Shire in Balance shared the spoils of third place between them. At the Byron Bay booths the Greens polled 945, Country Labor 377, Byron Shire in Balance 150 and OSF 129. The Greens scored 774 votes at Ocean Shores, Country Labor 525, Byron Shire in Balance 384 and OSF 248. Mullumbimby awarded the Greens 976 votes, Country Labor 331, Byron Shire in Balance 184 and OSF 259. The prepoll booths got a fair bit of action at Mullumbimby and Byron Bay – a lot of people must have been working on the weekend – pulling in 4,397 votes in total in the mayoral race and 4,179 in the councillor contest. Informal votes totalled 1,658 in the group ticket votes and 545 in the mayoral race, or around 3.3 per cent of the total vote. Q Full vote breakdown is at www. votensw.info/byron-shire-council.
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