THE BYRON SHIRE Volume 32 #31 Wednesday, January 10, 2018
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Calls to protect Govt ‘abandoning Sexualised mural How Arts Broken Head’s rays to die’ in sparks protests democracy feature biodiversity – p4 shark nets – p7 – by men – p8 ends – p10 – p43
This is not a photo montage – four young men launch themselves at clear and warm Brunswick Heads waters on Saturday. Photo Jeff Dawson
Let’s dip into the state of Council’s sewerage systems Lying just beneath the Shire’s green and leafy surface, a giant, unwieldy beast creaks and groans. With every new house, unit or secondary dwelling, it quietly grows, gaining another set of tentacle-like pipes. Such is the nature of the sewerage system beast that most of us are content to simply flush and forget
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until something goes wrong. But the reality is that our sewerage system has become an overburdened animal that chews through large amounts of electricity and is, in some places, significantly overloaded. Byron Shire Council did not answer any of The Echo’s questions about the sewerage system when contacted last week, so we dug into the issue ourselves. We found Council documents
which show that, despite millions of dollars worth of works in recent years, the system is facing major challenges on multiple fronts that are set to become more acute as new residential developments begin to rise.
Alternative approaches Duncan Dey, a civil engineer specialising in water and a former councillor, believes it is time to consider alternative approaches.
netdaily
North Coast gay couple wed on first legal day www.echo.net.au/north-coast-gaycouple-wed-first-legal-day
Protected Bruns trees trashed by ‘confirmed bookings’
Summertime, and the diving is easy…
Paul Bibby
Online in
‘We need to look the current scenario in the face and say, “if we’re going to double our population, do we really want to double the size of our urban sewerage systems?”’ he says. ‘I believe we need to look at alternatives such as non-sewered systems of dealing with wastewater.’ ‘We can’t keep on like this forever.’ Perhaps the most concerning aspect of the Shire’s sewerage system is continued on page 5
Managers have defended their decision to allow caravans, cars and tents next to protected and vulnerable cypress pine trees at the Brunswick Heads Terrace caravan park. As previously reported, NSW Crown Holiday Parks Trust (NSWCHPT) have been taken to task by residents over neglectful management of the pines, some of which are thought to be up to 400 years old. It’s the latest indication from the embattled government-run corporation that its pursuit of revenue from visitors trumps any environmental responsibility. A NSWCHPT spokesperson told The Echo, ‘New bookings for the southern end of the Terrace Reserve will be for a reduced number of soft camping sites from February 1, 2018. Prior to taking the decision in August 2017 to implement soft camping only, the Trust had already confirmed bookings for guests with caravans and camp trailers.’ ‘The Trust needs to honour the current summer and upcoming Easter bookings, where existing bookings have been confirmed. Other than these peak periods in 2018, the area will be limited to soft camping from February 1, 2018. ‘Every effort will be made to accommodate our returning guests with caravans and camp trailers for their 2019 summer holiday at other more suitable sites within the park.’ Yet the NSWCHPT decision to allow even ‘soft camping’ in peak periods is at odds with Council’s continued on page 2
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