The Byron Shire Echo – Issue 35.03 – July 1, 2020

Page 1

M U L L U M B I M B Y – T H E N E W S PA P E R C A P I T A L O F N S W The Byron Shire Echo • Volume 35 #03 • Wednesday, July 1, 2020 • www.echo.net.au

Budget cuts put Council’s projects on ice Paul Bibby Byron Council has been forced to shelve its plans for an upgrade to the Mullumbimby swimming pool and the reactivation of the Byron rail line owing to the financial impact of COVID-19. The agenda to last week’s Council meeting revealed that there is a projected budget deficit of $1.353 million for the 2020/2021 financial year, owing to COVID-19. As a consequence, Council has been forced to reduce spending by cutting back on a number of activities.

‘We didn’t make this decision lightly,’ Council’s general manager Mark Arnold said of the decision to cut a study exploring the feasibility of the Mullumbimby pool upgrade.

Pool upgrade delayed ‘We looked for every possible opportunity to include this, which would have cost about $50,000, in the budget. But it would mean going into deficit.’ The pool upgrade, which has widespread support among locals in the northern part of the Shire, was to include solar heating, so that it could remain open all year round.

There was also to have been a disability access ramp, a ‘splash down’ children’s play pool and a rehabilitation pool. ‘We have obviously hit a very difficult financial situation and it’s one of those situations, through COVID-19, where we see ourselves unable to fund some of the projects we’re passionate about and invested in, and that we look at our priorities,’ Greens deputy mayor Sarah Ndiaye said. The other project to be shelved was a study into options for reactivating some, or all of the old abandoned rail line between Byron and Mullumbimby.

A mum and daughter summit

As Melbourne holidaymakers arrive – what are the virus risks?

Mandy Nolan How can mothers create better relationships with their daughters? The co-founder of the Radiant Woman Mother Daughter Retreat program believes story sharing is vital. Jaclyn Cunningham says she became passionate about creating the retreat after seeing ‘high rates of anxiety in teenage girls – this sense they needed to prove themselves. ‘I also found that a lot of teenage girls really do want to have better relationships with their mums’. The high school teacher says, ‘When daughters listen to a whole group of mums, it can really help them understand something that might be going on in their relationship with their own mum.’ Jaclyn adds that often the mums who attend find insights along the way about their relationship with their own mother.

The loss of local newspapers ▜ p4

Summa Wheeler and daughter Angel, with mother/daughter facilitator Jaclyn Cunningham. Photo Jeff Dawson

Ballina Council to close southern beaches 4WDÂ access â–ś p6

Byron Shire Council Notices ▜ p8

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With holidaymakers arriving to the Northern Rivers for the school holidays, local health authorities are strongly discouraging travel to and from areas of Melbourne with COVID-19 outbreaks until community transmission has been contained. Chief executive of the Northern NSW Local Health District (LHD), Wayne Jones, told The Echo, ‘Owing to the concerted effort of all residents, NSW has successfully suppressed COVID- 19 to very low levels. ‘However, Victoria is seeing increased COVID-19 activity within some areas of Melbourne. These areas are being closely monitored, and interventions to prevent further transmissions from these areas are being implemented by the Victorian government. ‘Non-essential travel between Melbourne â–ś Continued on page 3

Mandy Nolan goes in to bat for Aunty ▜ p15

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Cr Basil Cameron, a long-time advocate of the rail reactivation plan as a way of addressing the Shire’s transport woes, said the project remained a priority. ‘It’s absolutely vital that we lead in that process [of activation],’ Cr Cameron said. ‘I acknowledge that it’s been left out of the budget, and I’m hoping we can bring that back into the budget sooner rather than later.’ It is the Council’s intent to recover the budget shortfall during the course of the 2020/2021 financial year, as ‘public health order restrictions continue to ease and economic activity starts to recover’.

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‘Normal’ ... for now ▜ p17

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