MODERN SLAVES ARE NOT IN CHAINS, THEY ARE IN DEBT – ANONYMOUS The Byron Shire Echo • Volume 35 #09 • Wednesday, August 12, 2020 • www.echo.net.au
Dunoon Dam public response time extended
QLD border hard closure now in place
Local artist shining a light for little ones
David Lowe
Aslan Shand
After strong public pressure, Rous County Council voted unanimously on Friday (7 August) to extend the public response window on the Future Water Project 2060 (www. rous.nsw.gov.au) for a further 28 days. The motion to extend the feedback period was moved by Lismore’s Rous County Councillor Darlene Cook and seconded by Byron’s Cr Simon Richardson in a livestreamed meeting. Cr Cook said, ‘I think we’re all aware that there’s been a huge amount of interest in this Future Water Project. There’s a lot of conversation out in the community, but people are finding there’s such a huge amount of information that they’re having trouble digesting it and getting their heads around all of it.
It is now closed. The Queensland border, that is, if you live in any area declared a ‘hotspot’ by the Queensland government. That includes NSW, ACT, and Victoria. You can only enter Queensland from a hotspot if you travel by air. You cannot travel by road through a hotspot.
Daily requests for extension ‘A lot of us have been receiving requests – anything up to half a dozen or more per day – requesting more time to consider this project, and to get proper and adequately thought-out responses back to us. So this motion is reflecting all those requests from the community.’ Rous CC Chair Keith Williams said that, after discussion with General Manager Phillip Rudd, a four week extension would not give staff enough time to respond to all the feedback by October, and asked ▶ Continued on page 4
A tale of courage and inspiration ▶ p6
Border zone
Local artist and first time author Maddy Hill with her new book Little Light. Photo Jeff Dawson Paul Bibby At a time when daily news reports are filled with traumatic tidings, local artist Maddy Hill has brought a Little Light into the world. The Mullumbimby resident has just released a new children’s book, Little Light, that encourages kids to practice mindfulness and gratitude for the small things in life. ‘I think one of the most important things is for people to learn to love themselves, especially from a young age,’ says Ms Hill. ‘So many of the issues we have as adults come from our upbringing and experience as kids, so to learn to nurture ourselves from the inside is really important. ‘And I think it’s really important for parents too.’
Byron Shire Council Notices ▶ p12
Featuring artwork made with a combination of pen work and watercolour, Little Light encourages kids to focus in on their senses and to recognise their own simple gifts such as the ability to see, hear, touch, taste, and smell.
Positive focus ‘I was really fortunate as a kid because my mum encouraged us [to be] focused on the positive things,’ Ms Hill says. ‘She would do body sweep meditations with us before we went to sleep, and encourage us to reflect on the day and come into our senses. ‘So there’s a little meditation for kids in the book.’ Ms Hill’s own experience as a mum was also part of the inspiration.
Feds push on with nuclear waste dump ▶ p14
‘Since having [my son] Jaali I’ve spent a lot of time reading to him, and I thought about writing a children’s book. ‘I also spent a lot of time holding him and walking around exploring the world with him and reflecting on how children see and experience things.’ Known for her intricately designed cards, Ms Hill has simplified her style with Little Light , though there are still some familiar touches. ‘There’s a butterfly on every page, and a sneaky little unicorn in there,’ she says. ‘I just wanted it to be nice and clear and simple for kids.’ To order a copy of Little Light or any of Maddy Hill’s work visit her website at www.moonfacemaddy.com.
Artists on and off the mud trail ▶ p30
Of course there are exceptions to every rule and a ‘border zone’ has been established on either side of the QLD/NSW border. This led to plenty of last minute dashes across the border on Friday evening as the final closing hour of 1am Saturday, 8 August approached. If you live in the border zone you are able to travel between NSW and QLD ‘for any reason’. However, confusion has been a key aspect of people’s experience as they try to establish if they can get to work, medical appointments, or visit their kids. Initially the Tweed Shire and parts of Byron Shire, down to Brunswick Heads, were included in the border zone, but this seems to have changed since Friday. The maps now exclude the 2483 postcode.
Avoid quarantine – don’t leave the border zone For anyone who wants to retain the ‘border zone’ right to cross the border unhindered they must remain within the border zone in both NSW and QLD. If you live in the NSW border zone but leave it, ▶ Continued on page 3
Mungo’s crossword hiding in Seven again ▶ p33
CALL INTO OUR WORKSHOP OR WE COME TO YOU 14 Bonanza Drive Billinudgel 6680 1347 or 0498 534 542 www.tyreassist.com.au
Jordan
Paris