Byron Shire Echo – Issue 31.27 – 14/12/2016

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THE BYRON SHIRE Volume 31 #27 Wednesday, December 14, 2016

www.echo.net.au Phone 02 6684 1777 editor@echo.net.au adcopy@echo.net.au 23,200 copies every week

H E Y ! C R U D M E D I A – L E AV E M I L E Y C YR U S A N D L I A M H E M S W O R T H A LO N E !

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Standing What’s it like growing Mungo on ‘Mono’ Stewart Rock dispatch up in a transient holiday negative retains surfing – p10 destination? – p11 growth – p12 crown – p78

Mediation fails over bypass

Puppy love eternal

The Australian Consumer and Competition Commission (ACCC) has approved the sale of the Australian Regional Media (ARM) newspaper titles on the grounds that a News Corp takeover would not ‘substantially lessen competition’ in the regional media market. ARM, APN’s media stable, comprises regional NSW and QLD titles including Northern Star, Tweed Daily News, Byron Shire News, Ballina Advocate and the Lismore Echo. News Corp executive chairman Michael Miller, a former head of APN, unsurprisingly welcomed the decision. ACCC chairman Rod Sims pointed out that reduced choice would occur in areas where ARM papers were currently in competition with existing Murdoch publications, such as Tweed Heads, where the Tweed Daily News competes with News Corp’s Gold Coast Bulletin. Looking for lasting pooch memories? Bring your dog along for a selfie with Santa at the Brunswick Picture House, between 11am and 1pm this Saturday and Sunday. It will cost $5, with all proceeds going to CAWI (Companion Animals Welfare Inc). Pictured are Oliver, Lola and Grace. Photo Jeff Dawson

‘Few concerns’

Conduct complaint upheld by GM While National Party-aligned councillor Alan Hunter seeks permanency for a large self-storage facility on his Myocum farm at this week’s Council meeting, it’s emerged that the former mayoral candidate has been found to have breached Council’s code of conduct while also having an unapproved building on his property. Former Council planner Ray Darney has submitted the DA pro-

posal on Cr Hunter’s behalf, which would see 30 shipping containers combined into three sheds and associated parking. Staff have recommended approval, much to the disgust of neighbours, who have a long history of rejecting Cr Hunter’s expanding business interests. They have claimed staff have ignored investigating evidence they

provided regarding breaches to the number of traffic movements allowed on the short Pinegroves Road. So far, staff have declined to respond to The Echo on that matter, and remarkably those complaints are not included in the staff report. But traffic concerns have been hosed down by staff, who claim, ‘Based on accepted standards for selfstorage facilities, the proposed devel-

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opment… is likely to generate a maximum of eight vehicle trips per day.’ And with all the other dwellings on the road, staff say, ‘The proposed development will result in a total of 80 vehicle trips per day on Pinegroves Road, well within its design capacity.’ Meanwhile, Council’s general manager Ken Gainger has told Pinegroves resident Rebecca Chaffer on continued on page 2

Mr Sims said that feedback from readers raised ‘few concerns’ and suggested there was ‘not close competition between the paid daily QLD papers published by News and ARM.’ ‘The ACCC concluded that, overall, a sufficient range of local news choices and advertising options would remain available in these areas, with Fairfax and independent local newspapers in some local areas, competing online options, as well as local radio news,’ Mr Sims said.

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www.echo.net.au/ballina-koalastrategies-recipe-extinction

Murdoch gets go-ahead to buy local media

Hans Lovejoy

A legal challenge by residents who will be affected by Council’s Byron Bay Butler Street bypass looks set to be heard in court after a recent mediation conference failed to come to any compromise. Council is planning to divert the Jonson Street main road to a bypass that would run past the Butler Street Recreation Reserve and markets, through a heritage conservation area of homes, through protected wetland habitat. The bypass would emerge at Mitre 10 at the end of Jonson Street. Commissioner Maston from the Land and Environment Court attended a site inspection on Friday December 2 to hear the concerns from Butler Street residents as well as market stallholders association representative Gyan Purno. Councillors Cate Coorey, Jan continued on page 3

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