THE BYRON SHIRE Volume 31 #45 Wednesday, April 19, 2017
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MEDIA BIAS UNDER CONSTRUCTION
CAB AUDIT
Mungo: Libs tinker at the edges while the pressure builds to do something, anything! – p8
Bluesfest pics galore by Jeff Dawson and Eve Jeffery – p15
Blues ’n’ butterflies
Mandy asks: is beauty a rort? – p33
Mandy Nolan
The 28th annual Blues festival came to a close Monday night with thousands joining Neil Finn in an impromptu group choir for an impressive rendition of his 1992 hit, Four Seasons in One Day. Thankfully the five-day event experienced only one season over the five days – it was an Indian summer with fine weather bringing punters out in their droves. While numbers were up and with many of the bars almost running dry, according to police at the event the overall conduct at the festival precinct was commendable. Duty inspector Gary Cowan, who was in charge of the onsite policing,
was impressed. ‘It was really good,’ he said. ‘Over five days we had absolutely no problems. The event was really well run and we were really happy with it.’ Rise Above the Flood organiser Ilona Harker was also thrilled with the support for the northern riverswide fundraiser to aid people affected by the recent disaster.
Patti Smith donation While musician Patti Smith graciously donated $10,000, festival patrons showed a similar generosity. Harker said, ‘people gave very generously. There were lots of $50s. And people were giving this to our collectors on their way into the festival, day after day.’ The total amount
raised is expected to be announced by Thursday this week. Festival director Peter Noble echoed the sentiment with the goodwill of patrons and performers, who all helped create another successful Bluesfest. ‘If there’s been a better Bluesfest, I can’t remember one,’ Noble said. ‘I couldn’t be prouder, I couldn’t be happier.’ Perhaps the highlight for me was at the Mojo on Sunday afternoon at Playing for Change, when 23-yearold new-generation Yolngu man Yirrmal from northeast Arnhem Land sang Stand By Me, alongside the fiveoctave genius of Ellis Hall. It was a goosebump moment, and something you get only once.
www.echo.net.au/lismores-lillysnags-bill-sausage
Hospital demolition fears spark community rally Residents have been outraged to learn of plans by NSW government bureaucrats to demolish the Mullumbimby and District War Memorial Hospital and have organised a community rally for Sunday April 23 from 11am at the hospital site. So far, local Ballina MP Tamara Smith, Dawn Walker MLC and mayor Simon Richardson have confirmed they will attend the rally, which is being organised by Mullumbimby Hospital Action Group (MHAG). North Coast Nationals MLC Ben Franklin has told The Echo he is ‘definitely going to try to make it.’ A report within the upcoming Mullum Chamber of Commerce agenda claims there has been no community consolation on a proposal to demolish the decommissioned hospital later this month.
Three little butterflies were spotted among the throngs of punters at the Bluesfest, held last weekend. For more pics see page 15 or www.echo.net.au. Photo Jeff Dawson
netdaily Lismore puts Shorten to the sausage test
Online in
No asbestos report Additionally, an asbestos report – which presumably would give impetus for the planned demolition – has not been released to the public. Residents claim that all asbestos in the original building has been managed with spray-on cement, which was deemed safe and enabled the hospital to continue to be used for many years. A statement from the Ocean Shores Community Association (OSCA) reads, ‘The demolition of the Mullumbimby hospital buildings in April was confirmed by Hugh Halpin of Government Property NSW.’ ‘Speaking with OSCA member Jan Mangleson, he stated that NSW Health had a responsibility to remediate the site of asbestos contamina-
tion. It is claimed this was discovered in all the buildings including the 1993 non-asbestos Suzanne Jamieson birthing unit, according to the Final Contamination Report and Remediation Action Plan. This report has not been released to the public. ‘No notice has been given of pending asbestos removal works to adjoining neighbours, including Coolamon Villa, or to the general public.’ Following a public meeting on September 17, 2015, MHAG called for the Mullumbimby hospital land be transferred from the NSW minister for health to the NSW minister for family and community services and social housing for aged care and social housing uses. MHAG spokesperson Cr Basil Cameron says his group is calling on the Byron Shire community to come and help save the hospital site from a government sell-off. ‘MHAG calls on the NSW government to immediately provide full information on the justification for demolition of the hospital buildings. MHAG also calls the NSW government to meet its obligations to consult meaningfully with the community prior to any action being continued on page 2
Echo open as usual April 25 The Echo will soldier on through the Anzac Day holiday, which commemorates the first major military action fought by Australian and New Zealand forces during World War I. Lest we forget.
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