YOU’VE GOT TO HAVE A GO TO GET A GO AND TO GET A GO YOU’VE GOT TO HAVE A GO GO The Byron Shire Echo • Volume 34 #10 • Wednesday, August 14, 2019 • www.echo.net.au
Bangalow Music Fest comes of age
Greens mayor refuses ecology study for road Hans Lovejoy
Scott Mullen introduces school students to the fun and intricacies of classical music at The Southern Cross Soloists’ Bangalow Music Festival last Friday. Read full review on page 32. Photo Jeff Dawson
New Saddle Road plans meets opposition Paul Bibby Residents living in and around Saddle Road between Mullumbimby and Brunswick Heads fear plans for an industrial estate and business park could be a Trojan horse for broader residential development in their rural enclave. But the owners of the property who have put the plan forward said local businesses needed suitable, flood-free land to operate, or they would continue to leave the Shire. Two months ago, Skai and Kelvin Daly applied to have part of their sprawling property, which lies between Saddle Road and Gulgan Road, included in Council’s Business and Industrial Lands strategy. This was one of a number of late inclusions in the strategy – including land at Bangalow – which were not
Byron Shire Council Notices ▶ p8
subject to the initial round of public consultation for the strategy, a fact that has angered some residents. The Saddle Road site is the same property that was to have become the Bruns Eco Village (BEV) – that idea was shelved following strong opposition from surrounding landowners, and Council setbacks. Under the new proposal, the land would be divided into four precincts spanning 11.8 hectares. The first, located at 66 The Saddle Road, would be home to a business park with a series of multiple small buildings. The remaining three precincts, located on both sides of Gulgan Road, would be home to a traditional industrial estate with warehouses and regular truck movements.
In their submission to Council, the Dalys said the site had the advantage of being close to the highway interchange, allowing easy access for large trucks, and was largely free from constraints such as flood risk.
With protesters evicted from the Butler Street bypass construction site by Council staff on Monday, it’s emerged that the peak body representing ecological consultants in NSW is calling for additional surveys of the site after critically endangered species were found in its path. And while Council are yet to provide the public with evidence that its approval requirements have been met, staff did confirm that a vulnerable Cypress and other native trees were cut down in the first stage of construction, in front of the homes of Butler Street residents. Meanwhile, Council staff are remaining mute over allegations they failed to self-determine that a permit was required for the bypass construction. Staff however did reply that ‘Council is currently responding to enquires from the Commonwealth
Department of Environment and Energy as a result of public representations made to it’. Greens mayor Simon Richardson has doubled down on why he won’t support a complete environmental survey of the area, which is also being requested by state Greens MP Tamara Smith. Cr Richardson says instead the project needs to get done and delays would cost ratepayers money. State Greens MP Tamara Smith says a complete environmental survey of the site is needed, ‘so that the flawed biodiversity offsets they are opting for are at least offsetting the correct species.’ Smith’s request comes after seeing Council’s map of the environmental species in and around the footprint of the Butler Street Bypass. She said, ‘It clearly shows a critically endangered rainforest’. The Echo understands Council’s ▶ Continued on page 3
Advantages Skai Daly said there was a need for a business park to provide employment for those living in the north of the Shire. ‘We envisage a business park… where local small businesses can cluster together and take advantage of being with other like-minded businesses,’ she said. In a related submission, local company ‘Regionality’ said the site was ideal for a small-scale regional produce precinct. This was part of a broader ▶ Continued on page 4
Echo editor dissects who holds the power, locally ▶ p10
Behind the propaganda war in Iraq ▶ p14
While they have vowed to fight on, protesters moved on peacefully on Monday at the request of Council and enforced by police. Photo Jeff Dawson
A climate resilient Byron Shire? ▶ p16
From the A to the I, those industrious arty folk ▶ p20–23
OPEN STUDIO WEEKEND SALE! SAT 17 & SUN 18 AUGUST 10AM – 4PM
RAINFOREST CERAMICS 56 Gittoes Lane Possum Creek. richard@rainforestceramics.com www.rainforestceramics.com Insta:@rainforestceramics How to get there: From Bangalow, take Lismore Rd, first cross roads turn right into Friday Hut Road, after 3 mins turn first left. First house on right. From Coorabell, go down Friday Hut Rd across Possum Creek, 2nd right.
ALS FREE ANIM sitors vi 0 20 t The firs animal ee fr a e iv ce re Dip in the Lucky
Free Mud Trail maps at our studio
Visit Richard Jones at Rainforest Ceramics in a forest setting. Hundreds of beautiful bowls, cups, plates and animals at reasonable prices. Each piece saves rainforest via a donation to Rainforest Trust. Make your own animal, glazed and fired $20. 2–3pm. Free organic herbal tea and biscuits. Free jar of delicious home made organic Davidson’s plum jam for purchases over $100 EFTPOS/ CREDIT CARDS OK
Free Event Demonstrations Workshops Artists Talks Pottery Sales 10am-4pm Sat & Sun
21 local pottery studios open to the public for one weekend.
17 & 18 AUGUST 2019 Proudly part of
northcoastmudtrail.com.au australianceramics.com