THE BYRON SHIRE
P 29-36
Volume 32 #07 Wednesday, July 26, 2017
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BOT TLING THE NOXIOUS GASES OF A TURBULENT AGE
Dutton ascends to Q&A’s Tony Jones Have fun in the War games defeat über-spook writes a novel home and garden Oz independence – p12 – p16 – p17 – p18
Hot licks and cold nights at Splendour Those who survived the police frisk tent and a couple of freezing nights in tents enjoyed a variety of music at Splendour in the Grass at Yelgun on the weekend, including a brief reunion by Powderfinger, minus drummer John Coghill, now an ABC presenter on the Sunshine Coast. The NSW Police Force Facebook page provided a ‘Splendour Starter Kit’ for the event, suggesting a hipster beard and flower wreath but no warning about cavity searches. The vibe was almost as much about fashion as it was music, dressups benefitting from bulk glitter as incipient chartered accountants took the opportunity to hippify. Police said they were pleased with the behaviour of the majority of festival-goers, despite issuing 76 cannabis cautions and more than 142 field court attendance notices. In addition, 12 people were charged over alleged drug supply and five with assault. Q See more photos on page 34
Queen of the bass face, Este Haim from Los Angeles three--sister band Haim (http://haimtheband.com/), cuts loose on the Amphitheatre stage at Splendour in the Grass. Photo Jeff ‘Axe Maniac’ Dawson
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Byron takes climate pledge Byron Shire Council has joined 34 other councils taking the pledge to tackle climate change through local solutions. The Climate Council’s Cities Power Partnership program aims to transform Australia’s energy future, with hundreds of towns and cities, through councils, becoming local leaders and champions. ‘We have 35 councils, who together represent more than three million Australians living in hundreds of towns and cities of all shapes and sizes across the country,’ said Professor Tim Flannery, Climate Council chief councillor. Flannery has stated that transforming the way cities use and generate energy alone has the potential to deliver 70 per cent of the total emissions reductions needed. Byron Shire is aiming to be Australia’s first zero-emissions community over the next ten years. By widening its low-carbon strategy to continued on page 2
Homeless at greater risk across the Shire Aslan Shand
Community agencies have highlighted the desperate plight of homeless people in Byron Shire. ‘We’ve seen a disturbing increase in people sleeping in their cars – a situation that has been exacerbated by the recent flood where people lost their vehicle and/or home and all their possessions including identification,’ said Julie Williams from the Mullumbimby and District Neighbourhood Centre (MDNC).
‘There is an increase in single women and women with children sleeping in cars or couch surfing, at times as a result of domestic violence.’ This was confirmed by Paul Spooner from the Byron Community Centre, who highlighted that there are also a lot of long-term homeless people sleeping rough. ‘Some people have been sleeping rough for 15 years and as people age they have increasing health needs – it is a very challenging path.’
The community centres in Mullumbimby and Byron provide a range of services to people who are struggling with making ends meet, including breakfasts and lunches serving between 50 and 100 meals a day. ‘At the neighbourhood centre people can access a mix of services and supports,’ continued Julie. ‘They can get a community meal, showers, community support, emergency relief, Staying Home Leaving Violence, Brighter Futures, financial
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counsellor, information and referral. The community support worker assists with material aid, assistance with housing applications (both emergency and social housing). ‘Both Community Support and Staying Home Leaving Violence will work with people who are at risk of homelessness owing to poverty, housing stress, domestic violence, non-compliant housing risks, mental health issues and so on.’ For people who are looking to get some food to cook a meal they can
pick up free food-relief bags every Thursday 9–11am at The Hub Baptist Church, Ocean Shores. ‘We normally see anywhere from four to 16 people coming in each week. Some are regulars but most weeks we see new faces from all over the Shire,’ said volunteer Nighean O’Brien. ‘A lot of people are really struggling with housing affordability. It’s common that they have very little, if any, money left after they pay rent continued on page 2
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