The Byron Shire Echo – Issue 33.35 – February 6, 2019

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THERE ARE NO PASSENGERS ON SPACESHIP EARTH, WE ARE ALL CREW – MARSHALL MCLUHAN The Byron Shire Echo • Volume 33 #35 • Wednesday, February 6, 2019 • www.echo.net.au

40,000 somethings

‘Locals’ West Byron DA refused

Philanthropy in the Shire Paul Bibby

Chris Dobney Few shows at the Byron Theatre receive such a resounding standing ovation as the Joint Regional Planning Panel did on Monday (February 4) after it voted to refuse a development application (DA) that would have seen a contentious 387-lot suburb built at West Byron. Its unanimous vote – the latest stage of a tussle that has been a decade in the making – saw the panel accept Byron Shire Council’s assessment of the plan, which recommended refusal on 19 grounds. Members even voted to insert an additional ground.

Time for court But it is not the end of the matter: Council will face off with developers in court next week (February 12) after they previously claimed a ‘deemed refusal’. Nevertheless, the vote is significant, with chairman Garry West saying Byron Council had ‘prepared an assessment report and asked us for a determination’. ‘We have to question it and … I believe there are issues…’ All three state-appointed panel members – Garry West, Stephen Gow, and John Griffin – and two council appointees – Tweed Greens mayor Katie Milne and Lismore Greens councillor Vanessa Ekins – voted to refuse the application. But not before spokesperson for the proponent, Stuart Murray, spent 20 minutes railing against Council’s reasons for refusal, describing them as ‘political’.

Was septic waste dumped in Broken Head? ▶ p5

Ballina MP Tamara Smith and Arakwal representative Delta Kay are calling on the state government to buy back West Byron for the community. Read more on page 2. Photo Jeff ‘Swampy’ Dawson

Rapturous residents ‘It was an amazing turn of events and so gratifying to hear the community burst into rapturous applause and give the panel a standing ovation,’ said Cate Coorey, Byron Shire councillor and spokesperson for Byron Residents’ Group (BRG). ‘It was BRG that lobbied hard to get the JRPP to hold another meeting after the last one in October was left unresolved. The last-minute dumping of new material just prior to that meeting meant that neither Council nor the panel had adequate time to consider it. The owners of the site had already lodged an action in the Land and Environment Court that meant the court would have made a decision, ahead of the Panel, effectively thwarting the planning process.

‘Our community should especially give thanks to Byron Residents Group’s Dailan Pugh OAM, whose exceptional work has helped our community to better understand the impacts of the West Byron developments and who has been tireless since the beginning in pushing back against this damaging project that takes so much from Byron Bay while giving back little of value.’ Byron deputy mayor Michael Lyon described the vote as ‘a win for the community who should be applauded for their respectful but very vocal opposition’. ‘Now we move on to the court proceedings, which is in the form of a conciliation conference. However, council staff have no delegated authority to resolve the matter. ‘As a community we need to pursue a rejection by the court.’

Byron Shire Brewery-cumCouncil koala-hospital for Notices ▶ p8 Bangalow? ▶ p9 DGYHUWLVHPHQW

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Buyback Ballina MP Tamara Smith (Greens) congratulated the panel on its decision and BRG on its tireless work, saying, ‘There was no social licence and it was very disappointing that the developer chose to attack the community and Council instead of seeing the raft of issues within the DA, let alone the true costs to the environment and the community of this inappropriate development.’ ‘I continue to call on the environment minister to compulsorily acquire the land and make it part of the Cumbebin Swamp Nature Reserve,’ said Ms Smith. [Read more on page 2 story.]

Labor compromises Labor’s Asren Pugh is now tying his hopes to a compromise ▶ Continued on page 2

Recognition for locals making a difference ▶ p20

It was a bakingly hot Friday morning in Mullumbimby, and the workers at the local neighbourhood centre were doing their best to stay cool as they went about their duties. Most were too concerned about the truck-load of eggs that had just arrived to pay much attention to the unassuming local couple who had an appointment with centre manager Julie Williams. Then an amazing thing happened. The couple said they had read in The Echo that the centre had recently been forced to farewell its only paid administrative staff member because of financial difficulties, and they wanted to give them something to help. In fact they wanted to give them 40,000 ‘somethings’. In an incredible act of generosity, the couple donated $40,000 to the centre so it could rehire its administrative assistant for a full year. ‘This donation is almost incomprehensible!’ an elated Ms Williams said. ‘I don’t think I blinked for 48 hours. Too often we hear [about] the negative elements of humans and yet there are so many in this community who contribute so much to building community. ‘I cannot express our gratitude enough and the wish to maintain anonymity speaks volumes about their humility and the intention of their generosity.’ Ms Williams said that while the centre’s volunteers had stepped in to try to fill the gap left by the administrative officer, having her ▶ Continued on page 5

Find the good Sign on for oil on Ballina something ▶ p21 sporty ▶ p54

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The Byron Shire Echo – Issue 33.35 – February 6, 2019 by Echo Publications - Issuu