Byron Shire Echo – Issue 32.19 – 18/10/2017

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THE BYRON SHIRE Volume 32 #19

100% LOCAL

Wednesday, October 18, 2017

100% INDEPENDENT

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

E X T R A P O L AT I N G F R O M I N C O M P L E T E D ATA S I N C E 19 …

Tales of the Is Byron Shire exploited and how becoming too to avoid it – p2 regimented? – p5

Bruns paid parking Flick gets gets more column new wheels! centimetres! – p6 – p9

Treasures of Byron

Online in

netdaily

50,000 guns on the north coast: Greens www.echo.net.au/50000-gunsnorth-coast-greens

Departing shots at Greens from founding member A draft policy supplied to The ‘More sorrow than anger,’ is how former councillor and Greens par- Echo by Tabart included positions ty member Tom Tabart describes and recommendations on the Byron his parting words on the Byron Shire sewerage plants and re-use isGreens as he leaves the area for sues, holiday let/Airbnb, the Myocum tip, North Byron Parklands and Geelong in Victoria. Tabart portrays a largely disen- Byron traffic management issues. The document reads, ‘The abgaged Greens membership with Greens councillors uninterested in sence of effective community enparticipating in monthly meetings. gagement policies has been highly Greens policy positions on con- problematic in Byron… In other tentious local issues are also being cases, community opposition to the proposed outcome has been igstalled by the mayor, he claims. The Greens, along with other left nored, as in the case of the Brun-leaning councillors, won a thumping swick Heads Caravan Parks and Yelmajority at the 2016 Council election. gun (Parklands).’ ‘Council is currently reviewing Tabart told The Echo, ‘All three Greens councillors are still very much its community engagement policy under mayor Simon Richardson’s in- and the Greens should engage with fluence,’ he says, ‘as they have virtually this process and adopt its own preno background in council realpolitik. ferred policy.’ General manager Ken Gainger runs them like a clockwork train.’ With claims of around 200 Tabart says he came to Byron in Greens members, Tabart says the 1992 on a yacht and lived in Bruns monthly meetings are ‘lucky to get harbour for a year. 20 regulars, who think mayor Si‘Byron Greens were founded in mon Richardson is wonderful be- 1993 by Ian Cohen, Jo Faith, Jan Barcause of his media presence.’ ham, Sandra Heilpern, Duncan Dey, ‘The older hard-core members Richard Staples, the odd other and are largely engaged with state mat- myself after the ’93 federal election. ters and organising elections. They Jo Faith was our first candidate.’ would really rather not know what ‘The Byron, Ballina and Tweed Simon and his three novice fol- Greens all came from this start. lowers are up to – at the last group ‘Until the end of the Barham term meeting no councillor attended.’ as mayor, the group ran on a reasonTabart says along with himself, able consensus model regarding polChris Harris Jones, former MLC icy, and then Simon became mayor.’ and mayor Jan Barham, they have Asked if Tabart’s assessment was been ‘blindsided by general disin- an accurate portrayal, mayor Simon terest and the mayor’s filibustering’ Richardson told The Echo, ‘I won’t over their attempts to introduce pol- comment on every one of Tom’s aticy positions for the Byron Greens. tacks as I respect his work on behalf ‘It looks like this will now floun- the Greens over many years, though der,’ he said. continued on page 3

Greens beginnings

Byron Youth Theatre Group was out on Saturday as part of the all ages Byron Quest treasure hunt. Participants discovered hidden gems of Byron, deciphered cryptic messages while gathering different treasures that were donated by local businesses. Photo Jeff ‘Quest In Jest’ Dawson

Unity ticket over mega food hub concerns There appears to be consensus between a local Nationals Party MLC and the Greens that a massive Bangalow food hub proposal, located on Lismore Road opposite the industrial estate, is not appropriate for the area. The potential effect on Bangalow’s vulnerable koala population was

raised in NSW parliament by Greens MLC Dawn Walker last week, and Ben Franklin, parliamentary secretary for northern NSW has told The Echo that he did not ‘believe that it should proceed’ at the location. A recent public meeting held by the Joint Regional Planning Panel (JPPP) heard from many concerned

Solar Rebate to Drop in 2018

locals who are opposed, along with a few supporters, including potential lessees Brookfarm and Salumi. The Northern Rivers NSW Business Chamber support the hub. Yet Greens Ballina MP Tamara Smith and mayor Simon Richardson are staunchly opposed, backing continued on page 3 advertisement

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