THE BYRON SHIRE
Byron Bay Film Festival program with this issue!
Volume 33 #16 Wednesday, September 26, 2018
www.echo.net.au Phone 02 6684 1777 editor@echo.net.au adcopy@echo.net.au 23,200 copies every week
KOMIT TED TO EXELLENSE SINCE 1986
PM attacks Byron’s Australia Day plan
Colours bloom at Cape Byron
Chris Dobney
Last Saturday’s Cape Byron Spring Fair was again held at the school’s Ewingsdale grounds with raffles, food, music and plenty of play. Pictured are songwriting competition judge à ine Tyrrell and past student Domini Forster. Photo Eve Jeffery.
Wilsons Ck Telstra tower rejected Council staff have been applauded by residents over their recommendation to reject a development application (DA) for a 3G and 4G mobile tower in Wilsons Creek, located behind Mullumbimby. A unanimous vote by the nine councillors at Thursday’s meeting supported the refusal, and it appears unlikely the decision will be challenged by Telstra. The mobile telecommunications facility, including a 3-metre monopole, six antennae and ancillary equipment, drew fierce opposition
The Bruns Parks saga for your enjoyment – p15
from residents who claim electromagnetic energy (EME) radiation levels as prescribed by ARPANSA and the Australian government are unsafe. Steve Toneguzzo spoke in morning access at Thursday’s Council meeting and said he has been a resident of Huonbrook for 13 years. He also is the chair of Environment and Community Safe from Radiation Inc (www.ECSFR.com.au). ‘I applaud the precautionary principle taken by staff [in their report],’ he said, and noted the 114 objections. During his speech, he brought out
Challenging youth violence – p21
a device that measures (EME) radiation, which then started bleeping loudly. He told the gallery that it indicates a very high and unsafe level of EME, and added that levels at a local Mullum cafe ‘were through the roof’. As for concerns by a councillor that emergency mobile coverage will be inadequate for the area, Toneguzzo replied the emergency number – on any mobile – is 112. Toneguzzo said, ‘The [government/Telstra] used to advertise that, but not any more.’ continued on page 5
Mary Gardner and her lovely lichen – p24
Prime minister Scott Morrison (Liberal) says Byron Shire Council could be stripped of its ability to hold citizenship ceremonies at all if it moves ahead with a plan to hold next year’s Australia Day ceremony on January 25 as previously announced. At last Thursday’s Council meeting, the Greens councillor majority voted to ‘hold its Australia Day event on 25 January and invite local custodians to assist in the development and management of the event.’ Crs Hackett, Spooner, and Hunter voted against the mayor’s motion. At a hastily convened press conference on Tuesday September 25, the PM said he supported the idea of an Aboriginal recognition day, perhaps during NAIDOC Week or on the anniversary of the 1967 referendum, but added, ‘You don’t have to bring some things down to raise other things up’. ‘Australia Day is Australia Day. That’s the day all Australians come together and we recognise everyone from our first Australians to our most recent Australians becoming citizens on that day. You can’t pretend your history isn’t your history. That’s the day the flag went up in Farm Cove; that’s the day the course of the nation changed. And from that point on, that’s when the modern Australia began,’ the PM said.
Edict served On Monday, Byron Shire Council was issued with an edict by immigration minister David Coleman
Discover the delights of Ballina – p22–23
saying, ‘Citizenship ceremonies are non-commercial, apolitical, bipartisan and secular. They must not be used as forums for political, partisan or religious expression or for the distribution of material that could be perceived to be of a commercial, political or religious nature. ‘The Byron council has sought to politicise what should be a non-political day of celebration that brings communities together. The council’s actions are divisive and the Australian Government will not stand by and allow this to happen. ‘The government’s position is very firm to ensure Australia Day is not politicised.’
Won’t back down Greens mayor Simon Richardson has confirmed the Council received a letter that would potentially prevent him, deputy mayor Basil Cameron, and GM Mark Arnold from conducting any citizenship ceremonies if it proceeds with plans to move the celebration of Australia Day. He told The Echo that Council was receiving legal advice on the implications of the letter but ruled out changing the date back. As a compromise, he suggested holding the citizenship ceremony on the official day but moving all other official Council events to January 25. ‘We are intending to write back and say we are happy to hold citizenship ceremonies on Australia Day – we hold six of them a year. ‘We can separate them and have the official Australia Day event on continued on page 3
School Holidays fun galore – p25–28
h *1*'7&9* 094'*7+*89 <.9- :8II
2NWREHUIHVW d+7.)&> d8&9:7)&>d SNLMYX IZWNSL 4(94'*7
3,17 63(&,$/6 SP 1 .; * 2:8.( * ; * 7> 8&9 :7)&> LQFOXGLQJ DQ 220 3 $ + % $ 1'b b b b b b b b bR Q 6DW WK 2FW 5. 39 8
BYRON BAY SERVICES CLUB
57*9 ?*18
' . *7
SOUTH END OF JONSON ST, BYRON BAY 6685 6878 WWW.BYRONBAYSERVICESCLUB.COM.AU INFO@BYRONBAYSERVICESCLUB.COM.AU