MULLUM S
HOP LOCAL FOR
CHRISTMAS! – see page 17
FIGHTING THE GENDER FLUID CULTURAL MARXISM WARS SINCE 1986 The Byron Shire Echo • Volume 33 #25 • Wednesday, November 28, 2018 • www.echo.net.au
Byron’s $1 Hospital
Periwinkles ÄśĹ•ČžĆ†ĹźĂŤÄˆÄ•
Paul Bibby
Periwinkle Steiner Preschool’s annual Christmas Fair is on Saturday December 1 from 10am till 2pm at 5 Sunrise Boulevard. Festivities include live music and entertainment by the Space Cowboy, pictured here with Scarlet and other amazing local performers. Wholesome kids’ activities, stories, craft-filled stalls, an art auction and vegetarian cuisine will be available. This is a waste-free event! Come and join the children for a fun-filled day in their magical garden. Photo Jeff ‘Spacewinkle’ Dawson
Nude bathing remains at Tyagarah beach A bid to close Tyagarah beach to nude bathing was voted down by Greens mayor Simon Richardson’s casting vote at Thursday’s Council meeting (November 22). A rescission motion by Cr Paul Spooner was knocked back, despite strong support by residents in public access, who claim the beach is still unsafe with lewd and offensive sexual behaviour. Greens Cr Jannette Martin was absent. Cr Spooner (Labor) sought to revoke the clothing-optional status of the Tyagarah reserve, located at the end of Grays Lane. He instead called to establish a 12-month trial ‘Clothes-Optional Declaration’
for the stretch of beach from The Wreck north to the walking track south of Beaumont’s Beach House. Cr Richardson’s media release on Thursday sought to outline his rationale; he said he voted against ‘very reluctantly, as personally I strongly supported the rescission motion.’
View of Council: mayor ‘I had already used my individual vote to support the rescission motion; however, I view the casting vote as a vote by the mayor to reflect the view of Council.’ The mayor highlighted the Safe Byron Beaches Committee, which
High school students set to strike over climate change inaction this Friday ▜ p6
will report back to Council every six months, ‘as a positive step to addressing antisocial behaviour.’ He says committee membership will include representatives from Council, as well as the National Parks and Wildlife Service, police, naturists and residents. It will be chaired by a councillor. ‘The committee will liaise with NSW Police and other agencies, develop rapid response and reporting protocols, implement strategies to support beach user groups and individuals, focus resources on identified problem locations (eg Grays Lane), consider how digital â–ś Continued on page 2
Byron Shire Council Notices ▜ p8
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The old Byron District Hospital site has been given to the local community by the state government, paving the way for the dilapidated facility to be transformed into a much-needed services hub. After 18 months of hard work by a group of locals committed to keeping the facility in community hands, NSW health minister Brad Hazzard announced last Friday that the 2,000sqm Shirley Street site would be ‘sold’ to Byron Council for a nominal fee of $1. Chris Hanley, who led the community campaign to retain the site, said the decision would help the community ‘in so many ways’. ‘We can be a bit cynical about things because we’re not always that good as a community about delivering things,’ Mr Hanley said. ‘But this decision will make a lot of difference to a lot of people’s lives’. Mr Hazzard said the government would also provide $200,000 in funding to help the community undertake the major work needed to return the site to a useable state. With the site previously slated for sale to the highest bidder – most likely a housing developer – today’s announcement is a significant win for the community. It is also a political win for Nationals MLC Ben Franklin, who had a central role in lobbying his Macquarie Street colleagues not to put the site on the open market. Mr Franklin is standing for the state seat of Ballina at the next state election, where he will attempt to unseat the popular Greens incumbent Tamara Smith. ‘This is a great win for our local community,’ Mr Franklin said.
PM stops the boats, then the votes ▜ p10
‘I heard what locals wanted and have been lobbying the NSW Government to ensure this property remains in community hands, with council and locals now in pole position to decide on its future.’ Meanwhile Ms Smith said she has been ‘proud to have been part of the community-driven process to take a proposal like this to the state government’. ‘With generations of residents’ support and donations towards equipment and improving the facilities of the hospital, it is so appropriate that the land now be returned to the people,’ she said.
In Council’s hands While the exact terms of the ‘sale’ are not yet clear, it is understood Byron Council will act as trustee for the site while a committee of locals develops a detailed plan for its future use. A preliminary proposal for the site has already been developed by a group of locals led by local real estate agent Chris Hanley and including Ms Smith, Mr Franklin and Byron mayor Simon Richardson. This proposal involves the creation of a community hub in which affordable rental accommodation is provided to organisations representing the welfare, health, education and cultural sectors. It includes a business plan under which rents would be structured in three tiers, with Tier 1 being for commercial organisations and Tier 3 being a zero-cost space for community projects. Once the facility is fully occupied, income would be distributed back to community organisations on a merit basis. â–ś Continued on page 2
Discover the marvels of Ballina ▜ p18
Matt Noffs tackles addiction ▜ p32
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