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The iconic Great Northern Hotel sells ▶
Local News Iconic Great Northern Hotel sells
Northern Rivers
Paul Bibby
Byron Bay’s iconic Great Northern Hotel has been bought by two cashed-up Melbourne investors, with sources suggesting they’re paying around $80 million for the pub and a neighbouring accommodation venue.
The sale has been formally reported by commercial real estate agents, JLL, and is part of a recent spate of major commercial purchases as interest in the town from outside investors reaches fever pitch.
It is the end of an era for The Northern, which has been in the hands of the Mooney family – who own a host of local venues including The Rails and the Bangalow Hotel – for more than 30 years.
They declined to comment on the sale when contacted by The Echo.
JLL, who were also the agents involved in the recent purchase of the Mercato Shopping Centre, said that the sale involved the purchase of the pub and the neighbouring 51-room Lanteen Lane Hotel.
The buyers are Scott Didier, the founder and CEO of Johns Lyng Group, and Scott Emery, founder of online lender MoneyMe.
It is understood that the Didier family solely acquired the Lanteen Lane Hotel with his daughter Casey who lives in Byron with her family, who are set to run the accommodation venue’s day-to-day operations. Beach Suites owners
The pair have reportedly owned the Beach Suites – a luxury holiday apartment complex on Bay Street – for the past 30 years.
JLL has been quoted as saying that The Northern was the subject of 12 separate bids from investors and hoteliers following an ‘invitation-only tender process’.
‘While this sale represents the biggest pub transaction of 2021, we believe that the Byron Bay story has a long way to run with the new owners set to take a measured view on improving the exiting off ering for the benefit of local residents and the circa four million visitors set to enjoy the pristine location each year,’ JLL Hotels Senior Vice President, Ben McDonald said.
Byron markets to move to Railway Park
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▶ Continued from page 1 move is Paul Jones from the Butler Street Community Network who said that, at the very least, the relocation should be a trial rather than a permanent decision.
‘There’s a risk that it will loose its identity, sprawled around the centre of town,’ Mr Jones said of the market.
He also said that the contamination investigation did not preclude the return of the markets to Butler Street.
Decontaminated
‘The rail reserve itself has been decontaminated,’ he said.
But Mayor Michael Lyon disagreed, describing the claim that the market could return to Butler Street as ‘incorrect assertion number one’.
‘No, it’s not universally supported by market holders and it’s not universally supported by businesses, and I think it’s important that we note that’, Cr Lyon said.
‘If we do see negative impacts, I think it’s important that we revisit it.
‘But broadly, I am in favour of trialling this and seeing how it works.
Councillors agreed with Cr Lyon’s position and voted unanimously in favour of the relocation.
They asked staff to continue working with key stakeholders to address concerns raised through the detailed planning and Development Application process.
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News from across the North Coast online www.echo.net.au
Another roadblock for major Kingscliff development?
A rescission motion for the approval of the construction of a haul route in west Kingscliff by Gales Holdings (DA20/086) that is designed to facilitate bringing in fill from the M1 upgrade was hotly debated at last Thursday’s Tweed Shire Council meeting with confusion over what the DA was and wasn’t approving.
Greens first to aim for seat on Ballina Shire Council
Five years since the Greens last had a seat on the Ballina Shire Council, the party is the first to publicly announce a campaign in September’s local government elections.
Tweed still waiting for action on shark safety
Frustration at the lack of action in relation to sharks and beach user safety was clear at last week’s Tweed Shire Council meeting with Deputy Mayor Reece Byrnes (Labor) putting a Notice of Motion (NOM) to seek funding for SMART Drumlines for Tweed Shire.
Ballina Councillor calls for affordable housing initiative
Ballina’s Cr Jeff Johnson has a housing proposal for Ballina Shire following a recent workshop with Social Futures and North Coast Community Housing.
REGIONALITY good news for local docu-makers
Regional documentary film production was the focus of the REGIONALITY conference at Lennox Head Cultural Centre last week, presented by the AIDC and Screenworks.
Vale Phyllis Merle Bartlett, 1920-2021
Sadly, last week, longtime Lismore resident Phyllis Bartlett died after a very full life – Phyllis was 100 years old.
Ballina’s Cr Cadwallader won’t let Dunoon Dam go
The Dunoon Dam made an unscheduled appearance late in the last Ballina Shire Council meeting, on the back of a motion put forward by Cr Phillip Meehan and seconded by Cr Sharon Cadwallader.
Lennox community garden’s orchard saved
David Lowe
Last week, Ballina Shire Council reversed its earlier decision to allow the Lions Club to use the orchard area of the Lennox Head Community Garden for a new shed.
Lions is now likely to use its grant to get an improved shed at Skennars Head.
In a deposition, Bill Farrow from Lennox Lions said the group was non-political, and he was disappointed that it had become a political issue. He said both potential sites had issues, but both could be dealt with. Mr Farrow said three of the four neighbours were supportive of the proposed shed site within the community garden at Ocean Breeze Reserve.
Jimi Gatland from Lennox Head Community Garden spoke in favour of the rescission motion, which was brought on by Cr Jeff Johnson.
He said the orchard site contained some of the bestgrowing land in the gardens, which had been improved by many hours of volunteer labour. ‘The significance of the orchard to our group cannot be overstated,’ said Mr Gatland.
He said he regretted the conflict with Lennox Lions over the site, hoping they could restore their previous amicable relationship once the matter was settled. (The gallery was full of Lions and community gardens members, who clapped their respective teams as if they were at the tennis.)
Image from www.lennoxcommunitygardens.weebly.com
Alarming precedent?
Cr Jeff Johnson said there would be serious issues with tenure for community groups if council was able to compromise or remove licensed areas after being approved.
‘I have great issues with the use of public reserves being the fallback position of council to try and solve a problem,’ he said, noting that there were options to modify or extend the extend the existing Lions shed at Skennars Head.
Cr Sharon Cadwallader said she was saddened at how the issue had been brought to a head, reeling off a long list of other potential shed sites for the Lennox Lions which had been considered and rejected over the years.
‘These are wonderful organisations doing wonderful jobs in our community, and to see them pitted against each other in this way, I’ve got to say is majorly disappointing’, she said.
Matt Wood from Ballina Council staff said there was support from the office of Ballina MP Tamara Smith to find a new location for the Lions shed and to extend the grant to pay for it if a solution could not be found in the short term.
Mayor apologises
Mayor David Wright said he would support overturning last month’s council decision, noting that he had been emailed about the issue from ‘people all over the country’. He apologised for his earlier position. ‘It’s been a schmoz,’ he said.
Cr Ben Smith then weighed in, saying ‘We’re just trying to find a home for the Lions Club, it’s as simple as that.
After more circular debate, the decision to find a solution for Lions at Skennars Head, and leave the Lennox Head Community Garden site alone, was carried by clear majority.
Ballina parts ways with Arts Northern Rivers
David Lowe
A discussion about funding priorities for the next year became a debate about local versus regional arts funding at the last Ballina Shire Council meeting.
Cr Sharon Parry questioned the wisdom of withdrawing Ballina’s ongoing support for the peak regional arts body Arts Northern Rivers, with over $23,000 per year now to be redirected to staff and programs at Ballina’s Northern Rivers Community Gallery (NRCG).
She said although the decision had already been made, the cost/benefit analysis had not been done.
GM Paul Hickey responded by saying ‘the recommendation from the people involved in the gallery was the employment of additional staff was a higher priority, a better investment than the contribution to Arts Northern Rivers.’
Cr Phillip Meehan concurred, saying a quarter of a million dollars to Arts Northern Rivers over ten years did not represent ‘value for money’. Although he acknowledged the peak body was a valuable entity, Cr Meehan said ‘we need to get the best bang for buck for our community’. Lismore-centric
Cr Eoin Johnston said his impression was that Arts Northern Rivers ‘did some great things’, but was very Lismore-centric, and ‘they need all the cultural things they can get hold of’.
Cr Jeff Johnson said that the original decision to switch the funding had been supported because it came from Ballina Council staff, but new information had since emerged.
‘It’s not helpful for regional organisations when individual member councils withdraw funding,’ he said.
‘It has the potential to put the whole organisation and their initiatives at risk.
‘If there is the feeling that there’s too much of a Lismore focus, well, let’s restore the funding and make those concerns known and and try and get additional regional programs’, said Cr Johnson.
Ballina Council staff member Matt Wood responded by saying the gallery was not able to offer the programs it once did, and there was no other obvious source of funds.
Cr Sharon Cadwallader supported the staff position, saying there was little to show for a cumulative investment from Ballina into Arts Northern Rivers of $226,000.
Councillor rants against NSW govt overlord
David Lowe
The state government was in the firing line from Ballina Cr Ben Smith at last week’s meeting, claiming that the media would never report his rant about the situation between state and local government.
Cr Smith described it as like being like an ‘abusive relationship’, with councils ‘expected to absorb a growing financial shortfall, while no longer being able to charge fees such as compliance levies’.
‘They’re taking the money from you while saying “be fit for the future!”’ he said.
‘They’re making money hand over fist right now. And every opportunity to take a little bit more from councils they do that, which is just insane’.
Latest attempt to control 4WDs at Lennox fails
David Lowe
Cr Jeff Johnson’s latest motion to limit 4WD vehicle numbers on Seven Mile Beach failed to get the numbers to progress at the last Ballina Shire Council meeting.
The suggestion was to switch to 12 month only 4WD permits, to be available from Council offices in Ballina, with a new gate/electronic key system to stop non-complying vehicles from accessing the beach.
Geoff Wegg from the Lennox Head Residents Association spoke in favour of the motion, saying that 20 per cent of the users of the beach (people in 4WD vehicles) were causing 100 per cent of the problems, including safety issues and environmental damage.
While some councillors argued that the motion was premature, saying they wanted to wait for the Coastal Plan of Management to be completed before deciding what to do about beach access, Cr Jeff Johnson said the situation needed to be dealt with urgently.
He said 4WD user numbers on Seven Mile Beach have risen sharply since the closure of South Ballina Beach to most vehicles. Natural, drug-free headache and migraine approach
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Local News Meet the hip-hop artist behind local Indigenous fashion label, Sacred Era
With ‘Heal Country’ is this year’s theme for upcoming NAIDOC Week celebrations (4-11 July), The Echo profiles Indigenous community leader and SAE Creative Media Institute student, Michael Weir (pictured).
Michael, who is a proud Aboriginal man from the Wiradjuri nation, is making a positive impact in the lives of Indigenous youth. From sharing Indigenous history through his clothing label, Sacred Era, to running hip-hop workshops for Indigenous youth, Michael uses his creative industries skills to honour his heritage and inspire the next generation of Indigenous creatives.
Can you tell us about Sacred Era?
‘It’s an Aboriginal owned and operated fashion label that exists to strengthen the pride in Indigenous youth, and change the way Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and culture are viewed’.
‘It’s an idea I had a long time ago, where I wanted to sell T-shirts to raise money for hip-hop workshops. I thought setting up a social enterprise is a much smarter way to generate funds than having to apply for grants all the time.
‘The brand and the designs, like the ‘Black ANZAC’, is about educating people and making them aware of the Indigenous culture and how we got to where we are today’.
How long has it been going?
‘The brand began in 2013, but in 2019 is when it really kicked off when I started a crowdfunding campaign. I raised over $40,000 to develop new designs and pay my friends, who had been helping me out for free. I had no budget to promote the campaign, so it was all done through word of mouth’.
I understand all your profits are used to run hip-hop workshops. Why are these so important?
‘For a number of reasons. Firstly, it’s just a vehicle to get young Indigenous people to talk’.
‘I have a background in Indigenous leadership, and I believe everybody deserves the chance to chase their dreams. I remember, when I was younger, being stuck in a hole and not knowing any artists from my background who made hip-hop music – these workshops are for those people’.
And now you’re studying for a Bachelor of Songwriting and Music Production at SAE Byron Bay?
‘There’s so much to enjoy about studying at SAE, like the expert advice you get from the lecturers everyday. The studios are incredible, and it’s an exciting place where everyone’s got a creative mindset’.
‘They’re following their passions and their dreams, so it’s got a really nice vibe to it’.
COVID-19 support announced
The NSW Government has announced a major new grants package and changes to the Dine & Discover program to assist small businesses and people across NSW impacted by the current COVID-19 restrictions.
The package includes grants of between $5,000 and $10,000 for small businesses, payroll tax deferrals for all employers, an extension of the Dine & Discover program to August 31 and the ability for people to use Dine & Discover vouchers for takeaway delivered directly to their home by the venue itself.
For more info, visit www. nsw.gov.au.
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A new addition to the Mullum Sculpture Walk will be chosen this weekend at the Ingenuity Maquette Exhibition.
Presented by Creative Mullum Inc, 25 local artists are exhibiting the models (maquettes) of their proposed works for the $8,000 award.
Works around the theme of HOME will be on view at Mullum Ex-Services Club in Dalley Street Mullum from 5pm Friday till 5pm Sunday with the awards ceremony at 5pm Saturday. The event is COVID-19 safe. The winner will use the prize money to upscale their work for installation on the Sculpture Walk. Lisa Kohlstadt, holding one of the maquettes to be shown this weekend. She is among contenders for the next sculpture commission. Also pictured is Creative Mullum’s Suvira McDonald. Photo Jeff Dawson
The NSW Legislative Council’s Environment and Planning Committee have announced an inquiry into the government’s biodiversity off setting scheme.
The off setting scheme allows flora and fauna to be destroyed/removed for development purposes and replaced, like-for-like, in other areas.
Nature Conservation Council Chief Executive Chris Gambian said, ‘Essentially, the scheme treats nature like a Magic Pudding that developers can keep eating forever if they throw enough cash into a tin. The off sets system has been designed so the government never has to say no to developers’.
The contentious Byron Butler Street bypass project was approved with the off set scheme. In 2017, The Echo reported that (now former Greens) Mayor Simon Richardson’s motion to commence work was supported by Crs Martin, Lyon, Ndiaye, Hunter and Spooner. Crs Coorey, Cameron and Hackett voted against.
Gambian added, ‘There have been serious concerns about the government’s new biodiversity off sets scheme since it was introduced as part of its suite of weakened land-clearing and nature laws in 2017’.
Clinical Psychologist position available
Bangalow Clinical Psychology is on the lookout for a talented, personable and experienced psychologist to join our growing team. We are an established and well regarded professional practice that provides integrated, informed and progressive psychological therapy to members of our community and beyond. We offer a beautiful working space, streamlined processes, electronic calendar and billings, admin support, plus very flexible conditions. On top of that there is great collegial support. We welcome those with their own speciality and approach to complement our existing skill base and expertise. Inviting suitably qualified and clinically endorsed psychologists to send through an expression of interest with your CV to: sara@bangalowclinicalpsychology.com.au All applications will be treated confidentially. For more information see: www.bangalowclinicalpsychology.com.au or contact Sara Goldie on 0414 861 653. 76 Byron St Bangalow. 6687 0431
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New play digs in Ocean Shores
Ocean Shores Public School has a new adventure playground, and its opening was celebrated June 18 at the school with a sausage sizzle, student performances and live music. VIP guest was Megan Johnson, director of educational leadership, cut the ribbon. Pictured is Rowan and Tanei in the tube, with Poppy, Asher and Priya. Photo Jeff ‘Tubular Bells’ Dawson
Concerns over full STP and Union Drains
Aslan Shand
The Byron Shire Council (BSC) has announced that they are scraping the sandbar at the entrance to Belongil Creek at Byron Bay this week, but one local landholder says this is too little, too late.
‘The water has been high for over four weeks now, and once again, the melaleuca trees on the floodplain are dying’, said local land holder, Tom Vidal.
‘But because they have waited so long to open the mouth of the estuary, if they do it now, without significant rain, then there is a big chance of a fish kill. We’ve had six flood events over the last two years, and the mouth opening strategy is just not working’.
The Union Drain system drains the area, and is useful for farmland grazing. When the Byron Bay Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) was built the landholders agreed to allow about one megalitre of treated STP water a day to help reduce peat fire risks and acid sulphate soils.
One of the conditions of consent for the EPA licence was that aft er 2002, any treated eff luent being placed in the Belongil system would be matched by, and not dumped, in the Belongil.
The Byron STP now runs up to five megalitres a day into the Union Drain, and thus into Belongil Estuary. BSC has failed to meet the requirement of new treated water being diverted into reuse programs.
This means that not only are they in breach of their operating conditions, but have left landholders with unusable farmland for over ten years.
‘The drains have been so full for so long, including with water from the STP, and because the mouth hasn’t been opened, that the banks of the drains are starting to collapse and trees are starting to fall into them’, Mr Vidal told The Echo.
As local hydrologist and member of the floodplain committee, Duncan Dey, told The Echo, ‘The problem is the increasing number of people connected to the STP without a review of the capacity of the receiving environment to cope’.
‘One option for Council is to say any new developments that want to connect to the STP can only produce the same amount of sewage as is currently being produced from that site that is being developed, while Council looks for future capacity’.
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Local News Feeling bookish? Annual fair runs July 3–5
Friends of Libraries, Byron Shire (FOLBS) have their seventh annual book fair coming up on July 3, 4 and 5 at the Byron Bay Surf Club, and organisers say this year’s annual fundraising raff le has so far raised around $5,000 from ticket sales.
The raff le will be drawn at the book fair on Sunday July 4.
Co-organiser Mary Nelson says, ‘We really want to acknowledge all the community that has supported us along the way – all the local businesses that donated prizes to the raff le, the Byron Bay Surf Club, who provides this space free of charge every year, and the other helpers along the way, like Marine Rescue, who lend us their small marquees’.
She also thanked the owners of a local storage shed group ‘who provide us with one or two sheds all year round where we store and sort our books’.
‘Then there are all our volunteers who collect, unpack and pack, sort, lift , transport and collect books from donors’.
‘It is certainly a great example of community, working across community, at a time when libraries have faced quite a lot of pressure to continue operating in our COVID-19 world. With more people at home, libraries have seen a surge in memberships and a huge increase in demand to supply more electronic resources and, in some cases, libraries even do home delivery’.
Pictured are Jannine Jarvis, Beryl Maine and Mary Nelson. Photo Jeff Dawson
Tim Watkins killer sentenced
The man who killed a young man in a hit and run two years ago has been sentenced to two years and eight months, with a non parole period of one years and seven months.
Stuart Charles Newman handed himself in to Coff s Harbour Police Station in August 2019 aft er fleeing from his Wilsons Creek home to Bellingen.
Tim Watkins, a popular young Mullumbimby footballer, was cycling home in the early hours of June 23, 2019, and was struck by Newman’s car in Wilsons Creek.
The Echo reported at the time that the 22-year-old died at the scene.
Newman was charged with dangerous driving occasioning death; negligent driving occasioning death; and, fail to stop and assist aft er a vehicle impact causing death.
With time already served, Newman is eligible for parole on May 21, 2022.
The Echo understands Newman spent six months in custody before being released on bail. He has also been disqualified from holding a driver’s licence for three years.
The judgment was handed down by Judge Dina Yehia in the Downing Street Court.
Paul Bibby
Two ideas put forward by Byron Council to help locals at risk of homelessness have hit a fatal speed bump in the form of a Council staff report, suggesting they are unfeasible.
But councillors at last week’s meeting refused to be deterred, putting forward new options designed to address the Shire’s worsening housing crisis.
Earlier this year, councillors voted to explore the possibility of setting up temporary vanpacker hubs for those locals who have been forced by the severe shortage of rental accommodation to live in their cars or vans.
In the same motion, put forward by independent Councillor Michael Lyon, it was resolved to investigate options for establishing emergency accommodation for women in local caravan parks and backpacker hostels.
The ideas received unanimous support from councillors, but the ensuing staff report painted a grim picture.
In relation to the vanpacker hub option, the report’s authors said that van camping in streets and reserves was investigated in 2015 with a view to implementing a 12-month Freedom Camping trial.
That investigation, and a more recent review of Council land, found that there were no suitable sites that met the requirements in terms of location, space and amenities.
‘A proposed site would also need to be within permissible land use zones under the Byron LEP…’ the report stated.
The report went on to list several other issues with the plan, including risk of flood and bushfire, and noted that the Snowy Monaro Regional Council had imposed a ban on informal camping, which had become popular with seasonal workers and tourists in that area.
Staff did not explain how the Snowy Council’s decision was specifically relevant Byron Shire’s situation.
Women at risk
The plan to create, ‘safe and secure emergency accommodation for women at risk in local caravan parks and backpackers’ received a similarly lukewarm response.
‘A realistic emergency shelter for women needing safe and secure accommodation would need to be a collaborative eff ort, involving input and coordination with appropriate support services,’ the report states.
‘Given that safety is the primary priority, any site where physical access cannot be controlled, and basic physical safety cannot be guaranteed, is not appropriate for women or children at risk of family violence.
Councillors eff ectively accepted staff ’s criticisms of the ideas at last week’s meeting, meaning that they have been eff ectively shelved.
However, they put forward two other options in a bid to address the crisis.
This included a plan to host a session with staff and interested landowners to look at other options for short-term accommodation, including language schools and other vacant buildings.
There was also a plan to call on holiday homeowners to consider putting their vacant properties up for rent during the quieter winter months, or transferring them to long-term rentals permanently.
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