Local News
North Coast news daily:
netdaily.net.au
Splendour’s $35k cash splash Six local community groups and organisations will share $35,000 in grants from Splendour in the Grass. As part of their yearly community grants program, festival organisers donate $1 from every event ticket sold. Organiser say the groups and amounts are: Byron Bay Public School ($2,000), the Pocket Public School ($10,000), Human Nature Adventure Therapy ($3,000), Social Futures ($5,000), Mullumbimby Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Men’s Group ($10,000) and Ocean Shores Primary School ($5,000). Organisers said they received a great response from local organisations, ‘with over 55 applications lodged.’
Splendour in the Grass GM Elise Huntley hands the $10,000 cheque to the Pocket Public School staff and students. Photo supplied
Belongil landowners sue independent panel Hans Lovejoy
The NSW Coastal Panel, an independent body of experts who advise the NSW government on coastal matters, is being taken to court by Belongil landowners after they rejected recent plans for rock walls. The hearing has been set for September 17 at the Byron Local Court, and will follow a site inspection at the street entrance to Old
Jetty Park, opposite 35 Childe Street, Byron Bay. It’s the latest in a long running series of court actions by the beachfront landowners, who are seeking to protect their properties from erosion with rock structures. Yet placing rocks or hard structures on beaches is a contentious issue owing to their eroding beaches over time. The Echo understands that their rock wall DAs do not
guarantee that the world-renowned surfing beach would not erode over time. The NSW Coastal Panel comprises Emeritus Professor Bruce Thom AM (chairperson), Dr Kate Brooks, Jane Lofthouse, Angus Gordon, Annelise Tuor, associate professor William Glamore and associate professor Ron Cox. The Echo has previously reported that almost all of
the Belongil landowners who submitted their DAs do not live at the properties and are some of Australia’s wealthiest individuals. If you wish to make an oral submission to the court on September 17, you can notify the NSW Transitional Coastal Panel (no later than August 31) via email at coastal.panel@environment.nsw. gov.au or by phone on (02) 4927 3184.
Drought message from Rous Water With the NSW government saying ‘100 per cent’ of the state is now in drought, local water utility Rous Water says that while the region’s main water supply at Rocky Creek Dam is currently at 95 per cent capacity, ‘saving water every day is important.’ General manager Phillip Rudd said, ‘Level one water restrictions will be activated if Rocky Creek Dam drops to 60 per cent.’ ‘Locally, residents have a great track record with saving
water. Since the 1990s average water use has dropped by around 45 per cent.’ ‘There are a number of simple everyday steps that can help reduce our water use.
and when washing your vehicle or boat, use a bucket or hand-held hose fitted with a trigger nozzle. Wash it on the grass where water will run off onto the lawn or garden.’
Reducing water
Tank rebate
‘These include watering your garden after 3pm and before 10am, fitting all handheld hoses with a trigger nozzle, so you can turn off water instantly, using a broom or outdoor blower to clean pathways, driveways and decking,
As an incentive to save water, Rous County Council offers a rebate of up to $2,170 for residents currently connected to town water in the Ballina, Byron, Lismore and Richmond Valley local government areas to purchase and
install a new rainwater tank. To check whether you are eligible for a rebate call Rous County Council’s Water Sustainability Officer, Kylie Bott on 6623 3835. ‘In the meantime Rous County Council continues to progress the delivery of the Future Water Strategy which identifies how the region’s water supply will be secured for the next 50 years, taking into consideration the growing population and changing climate.’
Politics in the Pub explores AI, Aug 22 Politics in the Pub is back, and this month the topic is the largely unknown future of human work in an age of robotics, AI and automation Former senior economic adviser to former prime minister Kevin Rudd, Andrew Charlton, is the guest speaker at the Court House Hotel in Mullumbimby on Wednesday August 22, from 6.30–8.30pm. Dr Charlton asks, ‘What will the future of human 6 August 15, 2018 The Byron Shire Echo
work look like?’ ‘As machines become more sophisticated, their capability to do human tasks is increasing and human work will change. ‘What tasks (if any) will be left for humans? What will be the impacts if the social benefits delivered through jobs are no longer there? ‘If people are outside the workforce for a lengthy period of time, how will they
‘How are ethical decisions made in programming robots to replace humans and, what skills will humans need to succeed in a future increasingly dominated by machines?’
Adaptation Andrew Charlton
earn a living, get healthcare and social benefits?
Dr Charlton will speak about the adaptation challenges and opportunities for individuals, businesses, societies and governments as he addresses these questions.
Byron Shire Echo archives: www.echo.net.au/byron-echo