Letters compassion, and most of all, consideration to your tenants who are improving your lifestyle. Amanda Gillett Mullumbimby
Code of conduct
Dear Byron Council Can you please re-assign the staff fining people for nude sunbathing at Brunswick Heads to filling in potholes. Thanks so much. Brent Verco Mullumbimby
The place to be? What’s happened to Byron, a ‘fun place to be’? My grandson grew up here and on NYE brought his partner back to experience it too. They stayed with us (residents since 1970) and we dropped them off in town at dusk and were prepared to pick them up when called (to avoid traffic dilemmas). They arrived home at 10.50pm, using an Uber service – $80 for the ten-minute trip home! Each venue they had entered in Byron was charging $40 or $60 to sit down before you ordered your drinks, meal or whatever. So disappointed in Byron – no fun, no fireworks – just PAY-PAY-PAY. Marion Toms Coorabell
The Holden truth I received a letter from General Motors recently stating that Carsburg Holden have closed their franchise. The real truth is that General Motors removed their franchise in spite of Carsburg’s many years of faithful service to General Motors, and have done so to many other country based dealers. The most contemptible part of this letter from General Motors is that it appears to set out to direct Carsburg’s customer base to dealers outside of the Byron area whereas many people, including myself, from outside
of the Byron Shire prefer to deal with Tony Carsburg because of his honest dealings and well-known community involvement. Apparently many others in the Byron area have also received this misleading document, which quite clearly directs them to Tweed Heads for future Holden purchases and service. I appeal to all of Carsburg’s past customers and potential future customers to continue to support this local business, which has for so many years provided employment for local people and also actively participated in community activity. I wish this business every success in the future in whatever form it may take. Brian W Boniface Banora Point
Rising tides
In my Echo letter on October 4, 2017 I stated that ‘First the temperature will be in the 40s, then in the 50s, then in the 60s’. This month the temperature at the Sydney Cricket Ground reached 57.6C, or 135.6 F. (SMH Jan 7). Do Echo readers really understand what is going on? At high tide this month, the Ballina CBD was inundated, not by floodwaters, but by crystal clear, oceanic salt water, during dry and sunny weather. Still don’t get it? Pretty soon, Ballina CBD will flood with salt water every spring tide and Ballina Council will begin remediation efforts. Now there does come a point when these high temperatures start to kill plants and thus the Australian wheat crop yields are already declining, solely because of man-made global warming. There is no proof that GM
wheat was responsible for the millions of kangaroos that suddenly died in NSW late last year, but if 40 to 50 per cent of all grey kangaroos in NSW can suddenly die, with no known scientific explanation, then perhaps the same cause can wipe out humans to the same extent: kangaroos died from internal bleeding, similar to Ebola. Peter Olson Goonengerry
Landowners beware! I empathise with ‘Landlords from Hell’ of last week. Renting an abode in the Byron Shire has its challenges. I could write a book of stories on my experience and those of others! Living under the owner is a tough one – the elephant in the room has ascended to elephants above. One owner could not concede that she needed to be considerate of us downstairs. Some landowners are often receiving a Centrelink benefit, and want you away all day – tenant needs to be working full time. Renters’ money affords them regular health retreats in Bali. Many are on their spiritual path, but not walking their talk. And many of them have a pet but do not want yours. Or your children. When a number of renters become disenchanted with being discriminated against, landowners beware. You might be reported and investigated for say erecting illegal dwellings (I lived in one), not declaring income while on a benefit, not having a formal lease and relationship with Rental Bond Board, not providing adequate ventilation or laundry facilities, etc. It’s time for some renting
Letters to the Editor Send to Letters Editor Aslan Shand, fax: 6684 1719 email: editor@echo.net.au Deadline: Noon, Friday. Letters longer than 200 words may be cut. Letters already published in other papers will not be considered. Please include your full name, address and phone number for verification purposes.
North Coast news daily: www.echonetdaily.net.au
WHAT’ S ON - THE VISITO R GUIDE 2017
BYRON
As the community volunteer who was the subject of the code of conduct complaint referred to in recent editions of The Echo letters I feel the need to share my perspective. Our South Golden Beach Community Centre S355 management committee, of which I was the chair and also manager of the hall for more than ten years, initially provided Council with concept plans for the 2015 upgrade and met with staff as stakeholders of the project. At that time we were assured that there would be open lines of communication between staff and ourselves during the process. This did not turn out to be the case with our emails and phone calls to staff going unanswered for weeks at a time. As major stakeholders we naturally expected a respectful and cohesive relationship with staff, especially as throughout the project I contributed untold unpaid hours liaising with staff, the architect, obtaining quotes and researching and selecting fittings and fixtures, thereby saving precious Council funds. Having project managed building projects in the past I believed I had a lot to offer, yet our committee was constantly stonewalled by staff. The GM is quite right when he states that I was enthusiastic and committed to my community. Tom Tabart was also correct in that the GM continued on page 12
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RAILS
THE RAILWAY FRIENDLY BAR, BYRON BAY 6685 7662 • therailsbyronbay.com
AND THE FAMOUS
RAILS kitchen
Thursday 18 January
METHOD
Friday 19 January
GOODRICH
Saturday 20 January
DEVILS KIOSK Sunday 21 January CONCHILLA Monday 22 January
GALLIE
Tuesday 23 January
CHRIS ARONSTEN Wednesday 24 January
SARAH GRANT DUO The Byron Shire Echo January 17, 2018 11