AT THE CENTRE FOR COUNTERCULTURAL STUDIES SINCE 1986
Summertime fun times! ▶ p18–27
The Byron Shire Echo • Volume 33 #30 • Wednesday, January 2, 2019 • www.echo.net.au
2019 welcomed, on spin cycle
Betty and Billy were tasked with upcycling Falls Fest punters through their onsite laundry-to-gig portal at the Yelgun festival site. Photo Jeff ‘Recycled And On High Rotation Since 1986’ Dawson
Wealthy landowners lose bid to dump rocks on Belongil Paul Bibby The Land and Environment Court has rejected a bid by three Belongil residents to repair the sea walls in front of their beachfront homes, on the grounds that it would restrict public access to the
Vale Judy MacDonald 1951 – 2018 ▶ p6
beach and foreshore. In the latest chapter in the ongoing Belongil sea walls saga, chief judge Brian Preston dismissed an appeal by wealthy landowners John James, Bob Watson, and Geoffrey Tauber on December 21. The landowners originally
applied to the NSW Coastal Panel to undertake the repair works in January 2017 but received a ‘deemed refusal’. They then took the Panel to court, arguing that they were simply seeking to repair the existing sea walls and so there would
Coastal management plan derailed by Belongil landowners, claims mayor ▶ p9
be little or no additional impact on public access or use of the beach. They said the works would in fact improve both public safety and access to the beach, and protect public property, as well as their own homes. ▶ Continued on page 2
Final S Sorrensen ▶ p13
Cannabis testing is unjust ▶ p15
GM Arnold responds to criticism Byron Shire Council’s general manager Mark Arnold has refuted claims against his staff made by a Council observer and journalist for the BayFM radio show, Community Newsroom. The criticisms were previously printed in The Echo’s letters section, and Mr Arnold’s full reply is available on Council’s website. The following is a shortened version, and Beatson’s response will be published next week. Claim: Byron Shire Council failed to have its Council representative attend the Joint Regional Planning Panel to determine DA 2016NTH020 DA – Ewingsdale Hospital. The Council representatives as resolved by Council at the time of the Joint Regional Planning Panel meeting for the hospital DA were Cr Basil Cameron and David Milledge. Under the Panel Operations Procedure and Code of Conduct set out by the Joint Regional Planning Panel, Cr Cameron had a conflict of interest. The Byron DCP 2014 was amended by Council in February 2018 to specifically account for the development. Council’s meeting minutes from Thursday February 22, 2018 records the change to the DCP (Report No. 13.14) and also listed Councillor Cameron as having been in attendance at that meeting. David Milledge, the other Council representative, was away and unable to attend the meeting. Under the Panel Operations Procedure and Code of Conduct – a ▶ Continued on page 4
What’s Mark Swivel’s new book about? ▶ p17
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