THE TOUCHY FEELY EDITION – BETTER THAN ONLINE! SINCE 1986 The Byron Shire Echo • Volume 35 #04 • Wednesday, July 8, 2020 • www.echo.net.au
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Paul Bibby
As a passionate rainforest conservationist, Jimmy Halfcut wanted to get noticed by more people to make them aware of the issue. Jimmy’s novel approach, to cut off half his beard, has worked a treat, and when in public, he says he gets many people doing a double take and wanting to know his story. After being sponsored, Jimmy set up HalfCut as a not for profit organisation that encourages people to shave off half their hair or beard, or colour/ braid half their hair for the month of August. ‘The goal is to protect the last remaining forest, and to engage in regeneration projects with the dollars raised’. Pictured is Jimmy Halfcut, with Tahnee Barnes from End Extinction International, and Dean Bennet-Steel from Byron Rangers. For more info vist www.halfcut.org. Photo Jeff Dawson
!şŔŔƖŕĶƐƷ īſşƖżƆ ćëĈŊ Ķŕ ëĈƐĶşŕǿ Mandy Nolan COVID-19 shutdowns haven’t just affected businesses; community organisations around the Shire have either stopped completely or restricted their activities. The loosening of regulations around community gathering has meant that volunteer and social groups are finally able to meet again. Although some are taking their time to re-establish meetings. Diane Giddins is the publicity officer for the Mullumbimby CWA and for VIEW Club. Mrs Giddins says ‘Mullum CWA
isn’t starting again until August 12, but Brunswick Valley VIEW Club restarts this Thursday (July 9) at the Billinudgel Hotel with a socially spaced luncheon.’ The organisation will comply with requirements, including a register of attendance, and hand sanitising. ‘We are really looking forward to seeing each other in person after three months in lockdown! We had to wait for the head office of VIEW to give us the go-ahead.’ Other organisations, like the Mullumbimby Presbyterian Church, kept services running via Zoom, and while they are now back to church,
Lifting the lid on Council’s unauthorised dwelling amnesty ▶ p7
there is no singing – only humming! Organisations like The Brunswick Valley Rescue Squad (BVRS) were active during COVID-19 restrictions, responding to emergency call outs when required. BVRS secretary, William O’Keefe said, ‘We have been able to get back into fortnightly training where we train primarily in vertical rescue and road crash rescue. ‘Our responses include the release of people trapped in motor vehicles and trucks, assists in rural, industrial and domestic accidents and vertical rescue. We don’t forget ▶ Continued on page 2
Byron Shire Council Notices ▶ p8
A move to put paid parking in Brunswick Heads back on the table this year appears to have the numbers within Byron Council, raising the ire of the town’s chamber of commerce. Mayor Simon Richardson, and fellow Greens councillor Jeanette Martin, are leading the push to have the matter reconsidered in October, reversing a decision at Council’s last meeting to defer any consideration of paid parking until August 2021. Moves to implement paid parking are strongly opposed by the town’s chamber of commerce, owing in part to the ongoing and unknown impacts of COVID-19. If the mayor’s rescission motion succeeds, it signifies a change of mind for Greens Crs Sarah Ndiaye, Michael Lyon and independent councillor Cate Coorey; all three supported a deferral at the last meeting. Crs Coorey and Ndiaye initially moved an alternative motion, recommended by staff, to defer the matter until this October, but this was defeated. Cr Coorey told The Echo that she would support the rescission motion. ‘They [local business owners] asked for extra data, and we got extra data, they asked us a year ago to put it off, and we put it off. ‘There’s a huge number of people coming into the Shire, and they pay nothing for all the facilities that they use. I don’t think anyone is not going to come to Brunswick Heads because of paid parking.’ Mayor Richardson said that, should the rescission motion be successful, he will move that
Mungo examines the dumbing down of a nation ▶ p10
consideration of paid parking be brought forward to October this year, in accordance with the recommendation of Council staff. He also said that, if this motion was successful, he would be arguing in October for paid parking to be introduced on weekends and public holidays, in time for the next summer peak season. ‘We believe we’ve done as much as we can to allay the concerns,’ Cr Richardson said. ‘We already delayed making a decision, we got an economic impact report, we’ve had workshops and meetings – I think we’ve done our due diligence. ‘People who fear it are never going to accept any of the data we generate, but I think it’s pretty clear. All we’re trying to do is to get something for the Shire’s infrastructure from the thousands of day trippers who come into Bruns on a busy weekend.’
Livelihoods at stake The opponents of paid parking, led by the Brunswick Heads Chamber of Commerce, say that paid parking would have a negative economic impact on the town at a time when it has already been hit hard by COVID-19. They say that the figures showing very high parking occupancy rates in Brunswick Heads are inflated, and that the economic analysis commissioned by Council is inaccurate. The president of the Chamber, Kim Rosen, said people’s livelihoods and jobs were at stake. ‘Businesses are facing the cliff at the end of September when JobKeeper ends,’ Ms Rosen said. ▶ Continued on page 2
Serving quality local businesses by the scoop load ▶ p18
Entertaining arty folk in action ▶ p25