THE BYRON SHIRE Volume 32 #46
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Wednesday, April 25, 2018
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Frazer reflects How deep is your What’s the solar QLD’s big on ANZAC day love for Byron? train long-term mine disaster – p17 – p16 viability? – p19 – p26
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Vinnies saves 50,000 plastic bags in three months www.echo.net.au/vinnies-saves-50000plastic-bags-three-months
Byron’s radioactive Spirited dust contained? away Chris Dobney & Hans Lovejoy
Adequate management and safe removal of radioactive sand from the Mercato shopping mall development in Byron’s CBD has been defended after residents called into question compliance over the site, which is a known former mineral sands mill. The questions were prompted by Byron Environment Centre (BEC) and a prominent Council watcher, who say their calls for information about possible radioactive dust pollution during excavation were falling on deaf ears. While Council replied to The Echo that ‘Council is assessing the application’, BEC John Lazarus claims his freedom of information request (GIPA) to Council is yet to be replied to, some five weeks later. In November last year, Jo Faith said she followed a truck full of spoil from the excavations at the Mercato site, which she said was only partially covered with a tarp and had the potential to spread radioactive dust ‘from Byron Bay to QLD’, where she believes the fill was destined to be tipped. The Echo understands some of the radioactive tailings were buried at the site when the (then) Byron Plaza shopping centre was built in the 1980s. Yet despite concerns expressed by local traders four years ago about their potential for exposure to radioactive dust during excavations, Byron Council focused instead on Mercato’s ‘Green Star rating’. After following that truck out of
town, Ms Faith began inquiring from the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) what protocols should be followed in the disposal of excavated material that might contain heightened levels of radioactivity.
EPA wipes its hands Inquiries by Ms Faith to the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) were also eventually replied to, she says, which handball responsibility back to Council. ‘Any matters relating to worker safety should be directed to Safework NSW,’ it read. A spokesperson for the Mercato development confirmed with The Echo that a specific DA was required for the radioactive waste extraction and removal and all the terms of this DA were complied with. They said, ‘The builder complied with the EPA and the requirements of Byron Shire Council DA in every aspect. The builder was diligent in monitoring this and responding as required. Appropriately qualified, independent scientists and technicians were onsite to oversee the work.’ ‘The field screening showed generally very low results across the entire excavation site, with limited areas of exceedances of several times the residential criteria of 0.7 ÎźSv/hr (micro-Sieverts per hour).’ The Echo all also asked, ‘Were trucks monitored leaving the site and what steps were taken to prevent toxic tailings or polluted soil becoming windborne? The Mercato spokesperson replied, ‘A low percentage radioactive continued on page 5
The prayer for sunshine worked! Many happy folk assembled for Spirit Fest at the Cavanbah Centre and Elements of Byron resort last weekend to take part in yoga, dance and workshops aimed at reaching a higher consciousness. Pictured is Spirit Fest co-organiser Alex Grant. Photo Jeff ‘Blue Skies And Sky Dives’ Dawson
A powerful culture appropriation speech kicked of this year’s Spirit Fest, ushering in a new paradigm in social awareness over the exploitation of traditional cultures for commercial gain. On Friday, local Arakwal representative Delta Kay gave a Welcome to Country at the Cavanbah Centre, and told the audience, ‘It is time to take a stand with native nations across the globe to move beyond colonialism.’ ‘The colonisation of native peoples globally has incited the endless theft of our mother lands, resources, the assimilation of native communities, our way of life, culture and more recently, the theft of native traditions. ‘It is time to reclaim and protect our cultural heritage, to protect and preserve our ancestral lands,
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sacred sites and unite our community. This must be done by “us� the native people, we have the wisdom and teachings in us from our elders and ancestors to enforce our lore, L.O.R.E, to protect our culture, country and community. ‘Non-native people, you are our supporters, you have the important role of allowing native people a platform to practise and protect the integrity of our culture against cultural appropriation.
Education, awareness ‘I, Delta Kay, stand alongside elders from across the world to bring an end to appropriation of native cultures. ‘I support and encourage the education and awareness required to help those who still feel that another
person’s culture is a viable way to gain attention and wealth. ‘Since reading The Proclamation on the Protection of Ceremonies by Chief Arvol Looking Horse, 19th Generation Keeper of the White Buffalo Calf Pipe, the teachings of my mother, Linda Kay Vidler of the Arakwal Bumberbin Clan has inspired me to speak out and stand with native elders local and globally to decolonise.’ Kay ended with, ‘I call on each and every one of you to stand with us to move beyond the appropriation paradigm, decolonise your minds, to embrace your own ancestry and heritage, listen to your innate wisdom and knowledge so we can unite with honour, respect, peace and love.’ The full speech is available at www.cultureaware.org.
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