THE BYRON SHIRE
ARTS & INDUSTRY
Volume 32 #44 Wednesday, April 11, 2018
www.echo.net.au Phone 02 6684 1777 editor@echo.net.au adcopy@echo.net.au 23,200 copies every week
FEATURE PAGES 18-19
R E F U S I N G T O L O W E R S TA N D A R D S T O A C C O M M O D AT E T H O S E WHO REFUSE TO RAISE THEIRS
David Lisle on the Letters, in Ethically challenged Billinudgel changing seasons print, from the PM stumbles past the community gets – p12 peeps – p11 30th post – p10 together – p3
New parking restrictions put workers at risk, businesses say Paul Bibby
Hospitality workers finishing late at night in Byron Bay are having to undertake an unsafe walk through the CBD and into the unlit Butler Street Reserve carpark owing to Byron Shire Council’s new parking restrictions, their employers and managers say. But Council says the new restrictions are necessary to improve parking turnover in the town centre, and that it has begun the process of installing lighting in the Butler Street carpark. The issue began on March 29, when Council introduced four-hour parking restrictions in the Lawson Street North car park, located behind the swimming pool. Previously, parking had been unlimited there, and it had been a favoured spot because employees could park there for a whole shift and then have a short, well-lit walk back to their cars. The changes mean late-finishing hospitality staff can no longer park there. Instead, under Council’s new strategy to improve parking in the CBD, they have been funnelled into the free, long-stay carpark in Butler Street Reserve, which is located on the other side of town and has virtually no lighting or CCTV camera coverage. The owners and managers of several local pubs and restaurants, including Byron Bay Fresh Cafe, continued on page 5
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Dalwood Falls claims another life www.echo.net.au/dalwood-fallsclaims-another-life
New life saving gear put straight to work
Mastercrafts on display Sunday
Guy Knox
Bayspoke’s Alby Johnson is one artisan woodworker taking part in Woodfest, a family-friendly celebration of all wooden things made locally and sustainably, on Sunday April 15 at Federal Hall from 10am till 3pm. The day will feature a design comp, gourmet barbecue by the Bangalow Men’s Shed and live music. Photo Jeff Dawson
On Saturday March 24, Brunswick Surf Life Saving Club took delivery of a much-anticipated, brand-new Inflatable Rescue Boat (IRB) with a new outboard motor. Little did club president Craig Reid know how soon it would be used to help save a life after he and other patrol members assembled it at the club. Soon after it was ready to be put through its paces, a junior member ran up from the beach, raising the alarm that three swimmers were caught in a rip beside the south wall. Owing to rough and dangerous surf conditions, the Patrol IRB was dispatched immediately, along with the new IRB as back up. While two swimmers made it to shore safely, one swimmer needed IRB assistance after being washed north across the river bar. After reaching the swimmer, first aid was administered and he was transferred subsequently to hospital. The new IRB was a gift from an anonymous donor and will continue to help save lives. Q Guy Knox is from the Brunswick Surf Life Saving Club.
5,000 residents have their say on West Byron More than 5,000 submissions have been received – mostly against – regarding two massive development applications (DAs) for housing/commercial subdivisions at West Byron, located on Ewingsdale Road. Staff have confirmed with The Echo it is the highest number of submissions they have ever received. And while the date for public submissions closed March 29,
almost 300 late submissions have since been received. Those late submissions will be assessed, say staff, ‘but it will be noted that they were received late.’ ‘The total number of submissions received is an extremely high number for Council and staff are now starting to work through them. The majority of submissions are opposing the development applications.
‘Some of the matters raised so far include traffic, environmental impacts, koalas, stormwater, flooding, earthworks and design. ‘Every submission will be read and the information noted and this will be collated into a report for the NSW Government’s Joint Regional Planning Panel (JRPP). ‘This is the second time DA10.2017.201.1 has been advertised
and submissions received during the first exhibition period will also be included in the report to the JRPP. Council staff will assess the DAs on their merits and this information will form the basis of a report to the JRPP. All of the submissions will also be given to the JRPP. The JRPP will be coming to the Byron Shire to hold a panel meeting on the DAs on a date yet to be set.’
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