Byron Shire Echo – Issue 31.49 – 17/05/2017

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bangalow

THE BYRON SHIRE

billycart

Volume 31 #49

DERBY

Wednesday, May 17, 2017

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

Dr Liz has a new book Sean O’Shea aimed at saving the puts his pics in planet – p7 a book – p15

Shark nets to be removed Shark nets from waters off the north coast will be removed following the controversial six-month trial that ends in June. The net removal will be offset by an increase in the number of SMART drum lines, which have proven more successful, and comes as whales return to our waters on their migration to the tropics. In six months, just six target sharks – including two white, one bull and three tiger sharks – have been caught in five nets across Ballina, Lennox Head and Evans Head, primary industries minister Niall Blair said last week. However, according to the NSW Greens, the nets caught 244 non-target animals with less than half released alive. Some 29 target sharks were caught by SMART drumlines on the north coast during the same trial period with only one dying, Mr Blair said, prompting the Greens to demand the government choose drumlines over nets on NSW beaches. Tamara Smith, Greens MP for Ballina, thanked ‘the 895 people who signed my online petition and to those who signed the hard-copy petition at markets and protests to stop the shark nets.’ She said, ‘The nets have been a failure at catching target sharks with only six sharks caught in the five months they have been in the water. ‘However during that time the nets killed an incredible 127 nontarget marine creatures, including dolphins and endangered turtles and many, many harmless rays. ‘Trials of SMART drumlines in the same area caught 29 target continued on page 2

p. 20 –21

FOR A POLITICIAN TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THE PRESS IS LIKE A SHIP’S C A P TA I N C O M P L A I N I N G A B O U T T H E S E A : E N O C H P O W E L L

Giles Parkinson on the decline of cars – p16

Byron Bay triathlon wrap up – p46

Planting love for mums

Online in netdaily Richmond Valley and Lismore councils plan for rail trail echo.net.au/richmond-valley-lismorecouncils-join-tweed-planning-rail-trail

Feds finally to consider flood assistance Aslan Stand

For Aine Tyrrell, Mother’s Day meant digging in with Tullan, Kailani and Taylor to help the hundred or so volunteers plant nearly 1,000 treelings at Durrumbul Hall. Aine also added to the day musically, performing along with Andrew Morris. It lightened the hearts of the volunteer gardeners, who planted the trees donated by The Mullum Music Fest and aided by the Brunswick Valley Landcare Team. Photo Jeff ‘Tree Hugs’ Dawson

More than six weeks since flood devastation, the request for category C funding for parts of Byron Shire and Burringbar has been signed off by the state government. North coast flood recovery coordinator Euan Ferguson confirmed with The Echo that this request, for funding assistance (for primary producers and small businesses), ‘is now under consideration by the Commonwealth.’ As for the one-off $1,000 payment to individuals affected by flooding, the Attorney General’s office say they are still waiting for the NSW state government to forward further information for individual disaster recovery payments in the Byron Shire. Assistance for individuals was offered to both Tweed and Lismore immediately after the flood. In response, local Greens MP Tamara Smith has claimed the ‘system is flawed’ and she questioned how continued on page 9

Community wins battle over Mullum hospital The Mullumbimby hospital site will now be sold to Byron Shire Council after Nationals parliamentary secretary for northern NSW Ben Franklin brokered a deal with health minister Brad Hazzard (Liberals) last week. The cost? $1. ‘This is a terrific outcome for the community,’ said Franklin. ‘It was very clear to me at the rally held on April 23 that there is enormous

support for retaining the site in the community’s hands in perpetuity. ‘And I have heard a range of wonderful and innovative suggestions for its future use.’ And while local Greens MP Tamara Smith welcomed the news, she said that any asbestos remediation costs should be paid for by the government. ‘Politicians always like to claim that they deliver things, but we

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know that it is the community standing up for what’s right that has resulted in this great progress towards retaining the site as community land.’ The long and hard-fought campaign was well underway before the hospital closed, and was led by the Mullumbimby Hospital Action Group (MHAG) with support from other community groups, Council and the town’s chamber of commerce.

MHAG chair Dr Michael Pelmore said, ‘We are very excited that, after so long, the community has finally secured the hospital site and are moving forward to work with Council and the community to determine future uses. Profound thanks to the community and all contributors.’ Mike New from Community Alliance said, ‘We look forward to continued on page 2

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