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Community-owned power generation in Ballina?
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Ballina teacher, Gus Moncrieff, thinks the time has come for a public conversation about Ballina owning and generating its own renewable power. He kicked things off this week with a post on Facebook’s Ballina Community Notice Board, saying he was inspired by what the community of Hepburn Springs in Victoria achieved with their small wind farm; which is owned by the community and started returning profits within five years, while reducing C02 impacts. The Echo asked Mr Moncrieff if he thought
02 6626 7000 www.byron.nsw.gov.au council@byron.nsw.gov.au 02 6622 7022 70 Station St, Mullumbimby 02 6685 9300 02 6684 3444 02 6671 5500 1300 652 625 02 6685 5911
Documents on exhibition are available for viewing on Council’s website at www.byron.nsw.gov.au/Public-Notice and on www.yoursaybyronshire.com.au.
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there was a place for wind in Ballina’s energy mix. ‘I’m a bit agnostic when it comes to renewables,’ he said. ‘I suppose whatever is going to return the best dividend if you had community members staying in as shareholders, whether it is wind or solar.’ He said he’s also excited by the possibilities of hydrogen. ‘There’s a lot of potential with hydrogen, certainly if we’re using electrolysis to produce it, which sources its power from renewables. That’s where the future invariably lies. ‘It’d just be nice to see a little more investment in that space.’
DEVELOPMENT APPLICATIONS DETERMINED
PUBLIC EXHIBITION OF DEVELOPMENT APPLICATIONS
Development Applications determined are available online using the DA Tracker on Council’s website.
ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING & ASSESSMENT ACT, 1979
Go to www.byron.nsw.gov.au/datracker and navigate to Applications Determined from the menu on the left side of the page. Notices and accompanying documentation will be available online up to 5-7 days following determination.
BYRON MASTERPLAN GUIDANCE GROUP – EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST SEEKING COMMUNITY MEMBERSHIP Would you like to contribute to the betterment of Byron Bay by joining the Byron Masterplan Guidance Group? The group is currently calling for Expressions of Interest for community members who are passionate about Byron Bay. Candidates for membership of the group will need to demonstrate suitability on the basis of the following criteria: • An understanding of and interest in Byron Bay • Demonstrated leadership skills • The ability to effectively listen to, and cooperate with community members holding similar or different points of view • An ability to develop and sustain contacts with key individuals or groups in the local community The group’s charter, project details and the Expression of Interest form is available on Council’s website: www.byron.nsw.gov.au/ Community/Place-planning/Byron-Bay-Masterplan Submissions close: Friday 18 September 2020 5pm Enquiries: Claire McGarry 02 6626 7296 or cmcgarry@byron.nsw.gov.au Please note: The canvassing of Councillors or Council staff in relation to this tender will automatically result in disqualification of offending tenderers.
LOVE BYRON HALLS Do you love where you live? Do you want to meet new people? Do you want to make things happen locally? Do you want to create new connections?
CALLING FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO HELP MANAGE BANAGLOW A&I HALL Council is calling for nominations for additional members to the Bangalow A&I Hall, specifically for the role of Treasurer. Love Byron Halls is an initiative to celebrate your halls and venues as spaces to get together. Community involvement in managing community facilities provides better outcomes for locals while engaging and including local people and providing an opportunity to participate in local community life. Halls are at the heart of our communities. Nomination forms, further information such as Terms of References, the ‘Halls and Venues Guidelines for Section 355 Management Committees and Boards’ and past meeting minutes can be found on Council’s Web site at www.byron.nsw.gov.au/ Council/Committees-and-groups/Section-355-Committees-andBoards-of-Management. To apply, please complete a nomination form available from the website. Nominations Close: Friday 28 August 2020 Enquiries: Joanne McMurtry, Community Project Officer, 02 6626 7316 or jmcmurtry@byron.nsw.gov.au
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The following development applications (DAs) have been received by Council and require exhibition in accordance with Council’s Community Participation Plan 2019. DAs may be viewed online www.byron.nsw.gov.au/DAs_exhibition or by using the Online kiosk at Council’s Customer Service Centre during normal office hours. Submissions Once you have viewed the DA, you can use the online form in the ‘Make a Submission’ tab on the DA Tracker or go to www.byron.nsw.gov.au/dasubmission. Further information on making a submission is available at www.byron.nsw.gov.au/Makea-submission-on-a-DA. Political Donations Disclosure There are requirements in relation to the disclosure of political gifts and donations. Refer to Council’s website to satisfy yourself that you are complying with your disclosure obligations prior to lodging a submission www.byron.nsw.gov.au/Political-donations-disclosure. Please quote the development application and property description when making a submission.
EXHIBITION CLOSES 2 SEPTEMBER 2020 10.2020.370.1 – Bangalow, 68 Byron Street (LOTS: 12,13,14 SEC: 6 DP: 4358) Ardill Payne & Partners, Stage 1: Change of Use of Existing Building from Residential (Dwelling House) to Commercial (Offices/Shops) including Alterations and Additions to Existing Building and Provision of Car Parking Stage 2: Demolition of Existing Detached Garage Building and Construction of a New Detached Building to be Used for Commercial Purposes and Provision of Car Parking 10.2020.368.1 – Main Arm, 189 Coopers West Lane (LOT: 3 DP: 203089) Ms R J Lemaire, Use of Alterations and Additions to Dwelling House, Garage, Carport and Swimming Pool 10.2020.384.1 – Coorabell, 9 Newes Road (LOT: 6 DP: 248897) Matt Walker Town Planning, Use of Secondary Dwelling and Carport and New Pool Cabana 10.2020.366.1 – Goonengerry, 205 Repentance Creek Road (LOT: 1 DP: 252384) Ms S Druitt, Use of secondary Dwelling, Alterations and Additions to existing Dwelling and New Swimming Pool 10.2020.386.1 – Bangalow, 5 Lismore Road (LOT: 17 DP: 1227099) Planners North, Change of Use of Shop 1 and Shop 2
EXHIBITION CLOSES 9 SEPTEMBER 2020 10.2020.338.1 – Coopers Shoot, 629 Coopers Shoot Road (LOT: 4 DP: 747075) Piper Planning, Alterations and Additions to Existing Shed to create Dual Occupancy (Detached) and Rural Tourist Facility Comprising Three (3) Cabins 10.2020.375.1 – Myocum, 265 Tyagarah Road (LOT: 6 DP: 788256) Ms W Champagne, Use of Secondary Dwelling Converted to Dual Occupancy (Detached) and Change of Use of Shed to Studio 10.2020.380.1 – Byron Bay, 59 Massinger Street (LOT: 4 DP: 1115611) Archimages Architecture, Use of Alterations and Additions to Existing Dwelling House 10.2020.391.1 – Mullumbimby, 142 Main Arm Road (LOT: 2 DP: 845011) Ardill Payne & Partners, Use of Farm Building 10.2019.616.2 – Byron Bay, 137-139 Jonson Street & 3 Browning Street (LOT: 21 DP: 247289, LOT: 5 SEC: 51 DP: 758207, LOT: 60 DP: 125365) Mr M Scott, S4.55 to Modify Design of Basement Carpark and Various Conditions of Consent
Community power Mr Moncrieff said although he’s worked in education for the last decade, he’s recently gone back to university to study Environmental and Marine Science, where he started exploring mitigation strategies to address environmental issues. ‘I first went down the avenue of looking at carbon offsetting, but through that I came across more research about community-owned power generation.’
Victorian inspired Mr Moncrieff said his personal experiences with community owned renewable power at Hepburn Springs, when he lived near there as a teacher, were very positive. ‘It’s something they seem to derive a lot of pride from,’ he said. ‘It was always the conversation-starter. ‘It really piqued my interest. Why aren’t we doing more of this? It’s obviously cost viable, so where’s the resistance coming from? That’s the world we’re in
at the moment, trying to understand where that disconnect occurs. It should be a no-brainer but it’s being hindered.’ So far, Mr Moncrieff has found support for his ideas from Ballina Councillor Keith Williams, and he’s also reaching out to other Ballina councillors, as well as local environmental consultant James Foster. He’s already encountered some hostility in the online space, but Mr Moncrieff says he’s happy to talk to people with different views. ‘I’m used to teenagers!’ he said. He acknowledges there are environmental issues with renewables, but sees that the debate is coloured by deliberate misinformation from fossil fuel interests. He hopes that Australia might be able to take advantage of new renewables manufacturing opportunities.
▶ Read more online: www.echo.net.au/ community-owned-powergeneration-in-ballina
A memento of folly? Paul Bibby What better place could there be for a giant seedpod, than tucked away in a nice, green garden bed? But what if said seedpod is a giant steel art installation that’s costing you $80,000? In the latest chapter in the saga of the Shire’s homeless sculpture, it now appears Byron Council’s latest public art experiment, Memento Aestes, may end up in a garden bed next to the old Byron train station. It is, by The Echo’s count, the eleventh site considered by the Council for the artwork, including various spots around the Byron Bay foreshore, the Sandhills Estate, the Byron Bay rail corridor, and six separate sites around the river in Brunswick Heads. The selection of Railway Park is a return, of sorts, to the original location proposed for the sculpture. Featuring a three-metre high representation of a pandanus seedpod, Memento Aestes was initially to have pride of place in Railway Park. However, a combination of issues surrounding the materials used in construction, and a major redevelopment of the park saw this location abandoned by both Council and the private
consultants it has hired to help with the project. Two years on, after an extensive review of site options, the park is back in favour – though this time the sculpture will be somewhat further from the action.
Tucked away ‘Following this review of site options, and taking into account the constraints, approvals and consultation required for the alternatives, it is recommended that the garden bed in front of the Countrylink Building in Railway Park be the location for Memento Aestates,’ Council’s Community Projects Officer, Joanne McMurty said in her report to last week’s meeting of the Public Art Panel. ‘Should Railway Park not be the preferred site for the work, significant stakeholder consultation and further approval processes would need to be undertaken to adequately inform decisionmaking regarding any of the above high profile sites. ‘In addition, a negative variation to the contract will be required in order to allow sufficient budget to be retained by Council for future installation of the artwork.’ The matter will come before tomorrow’s full Council meeting for final approval.
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