QUICK! CALL THE FIXATED PERSONS INVESTIGATIONS GOON SQUAD, IT’S… The Byron Shire Echo • Volume 36 #03 • June 30, 2021 • www.echo.net.au
Byron markets to move to Railway Park
Local Circus Festival goes National
Paul Bibby The Byron community market is moving to a new home in the centre of town and is set to remain there for the foreseeable future. In a move that seems likely to anger many, even as it pleases others, councillors voted unanimously in favour of moving the market to an area in and around Railway Park at last week’s meeting. The markets have been chugging away in the foreshore park next to Main Beach for around two years, following the closure their traditional home in Butler Street Reserve to facilitate the construction of the new Byron bus interchange. The Butler Street site was subsequently found to be contaminated with acid phosphate, casting grave doubts over its suitability for any community purpose, let alone a market that attracts thousands of patrons every month. Notwithstanding this contamination, and the fragile nature of the foreshore park, a significant number of locals oppose the move to Railway Park.
Community survey A recent community feedback survey found that 49.1 per cent of respondents support the permanent relocation of the market to the centre of town, while 39 per cent oppose the move. Just under 12 per cent of respondents said they were unsure. Among those who oppose the ▶ Continued on page 5
The iconic Great Northern Hotel sells ▶ p5
Old Byron Hospital management decision held ĶŕȞƆĕĈſĕƐ Paul Bibby
Malaika Okoth, Spagehtti Circus performer, Alice Cadwell, Festival Director and General Manager with Hannah Richards, performer with A Good Catch, Radish by Night, and Yuck Circus, a NICA graduate and local success story. The festival will also feature ‘Sweet Street’ where ice cream, organic fairy floss, doughnuts and other tasty treats will be served, alongside world-class artists. Photo Jeff ‘Sweet Toof’ Dawson The Mullum Circus Festival has announced that it will henceforth be known as National Circus Festival, with its new name and branding officially unveiled alongside its early bird 2021 program announcement. To be held at the Mullumbimby Showground from September 20–26, organisers say the National Circus Festival hosts a dual program, with two distinct streams, including a four-day National Training Program from September 20–23, assembling the nation’s best performers in one location to collaborate, trial new shows and develop existing works. Following the training program, the weekend of September 24–26
Let’s kick of some candidate questions! ▶ p10
will see the festival go into full swing, with a program of more than fifty events set to grace the stages over the three-days, with the first ten acts announced.
Rebranding National Circus Festival Director Alice Cadwell said, ‘After our hiatus with the festival, it feels great to come back in such a strong fashion with new branding and an amazing program – this early release is just a tip of the iceberg of what we’re offering in 2021’. ‘This year’s festival will truly be a celebration of circus for everyone, with world-class shows, broad training programs featuring
Can I shed the virus after I get a vaccine? ▶ p18
highly-skilled teaching artists, fun for the whole family, unexpected delights, a giant globe, great food and coffee – and so much more’. Featured acts include two Brisbane powerhouse companies in combination, Casus Circus and Mad Dance House. Australia’s most celebrated proponents of acrobatics and performance, Alex Mizzen is also booked. To celebrate festival rebranding and to celebrate the announcement of the event’s first ten artists for the 2021 festival, organisers have announced a limited run of early bird tickets available via the National Circus Festival website: www.nationalcircusfestival.com.
Schools out! Loads of activities to keep the yoofs out of your hair ▶ p22
Byron Shire Council has handed responsibility for managing the new community services hub, being created at the Old Byron Hospital, to a major not-for-profit organisation based in Lismore, overlooking a bid from the Byron Community Centre. Following a discussion conducted entirely behind closed doors at last week’s Council meeting, councillors voted unanimously to award the tender to Social Futures. Based in the centre of Lismore, Social Futures is a major provider of services across regional Australia in the areas of homelessness and housing, youth and family, and disability support. It is also the main provider of Local Area Coordination services for the National Disability Insurance Scheme, making it one of the largest service providers in the state. The details of Social Futures’ pitch to Council is not known because its tender application was made confidential. The organisation will now have a broad range of responsibilities in relation to the new community services hub at the old hospital. These include putting arrangements in place for the management and occupation of the former hospital, such as deciding which organisations will be given tenancies at the site. ▶ Continued on page 4
An historical perspective of the region ▶ p40
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