Local News

ƷſşŕōōĶëŕĈĕƐĕëŔƖŕưĕĶōĕĎȞ Longtime serving Byron Shire councillor, Alan Hunter, has unveiled his running team for the 2021 NSW local government elections, to be held September 4. His press release says he comes to the elections with local government experience: ‘Having already served two terms for the Shire, Mr Hunter has assembled a group of locals with a healthy mix of experience, passion and most of all common sense’. Mr Hunter said serving on Council for the last nine years had allowed him to get a lot done, but as the only conservative it was a constant battle against misguided ideology. ‘I would like to get a lot more done this term if elected, but we now need to refocus on community priorities in these very uncertain times and not on outside politics’, Mr Hunter said. His press release reads, ‘His running mates include longtime local Sue Stirton, who has a family and business in Park Street, Brunswick Heads; Coopers Shoot resident Bruno Filippello, who brings invaluable experience through his many years in the corporate world and management of teams with a focus on strategy, innovation

Byron police are still investigating a crash that left a homeless man in his sixties seriously injured last week, Inspector Matt Kehoe told The Echo. The 62-year-old man was reportedly crossing Fletcher Street in Byron Bay’s CBD when a woman driving a Toyota station wagon hit him

on Monday July 12, around 5.40pm. ‘He’s out of intensive care and is now on the orthopaedic ward of the Gold Coast University Hospital,’ Insp. Kehoe told The Echo. The man had suffered ‘significant injuries’ to his legs, arms and pelvis, Insp. Kehoe said. DOCTORS Dr Anthony Solomon Dr Rob Trigger Dr Bettie Honey Dr Savanna Harrison Dr Leena Zhou Dr Meera Perumalpillai-McGarry

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OSTEOPATHS Paul Orrock Bimbi Gray

NATUROPATH

From left: Sue Stirton, Bruno Filippello, Cr Alan Hunter and Rhett Holt. Photo Fiora Sacco and people; and Byron Bay local, Rhett Holt, who with his partner runs a B&B and works in sustainability technology’.

bĕƷĕōĕĈƐĶşŕĶƆƆƖĕ Mr Hunter said the key issue before Council is financial management, made all the more immediate with the current uncertainty and COVID-19 restrictions. ‘We simply can’t ignore our finances as we have in the past, such as chasing whimsical passions that will never eventuate, like getting a train service back’, Mr Hunter said. ‘Council have spent

almost $400,000 to find we are now no closer to reinstating a train, much less getting a rail trail with a walking/ cycle track that would provide a perfect opportunity for tourism and add to local amenities’. ‘Against my strong objection, Council also took on a number of court challenges, despite the advice from three legal sources against them: and lost, incurring not only our own costs, but those of the court and the defendant. ‘If elected, my team will concentrate on improving Council services and

community satisfaction, housing shortages, traffic management through making our roads work better, improving drainage and flood management strategies and building a pedestrian/cycleway along the rail corridor. ‘There is a real need for change and removing block voting on key issues, but we need the support of people who want a sensible approach to our Shire, not one that sees us continually sliding backwards’. Mr Hunter told The Echo he is an Nationals Party member, ‘but not active’.

”ǕǀĕſëưëĶōëćōĕǽƆëƷIJĕëōƐIJëƖƐIJşſĶƐĶĕƆ Health authorities in the Northern Rivers say the region now has a supply of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine. The news comes after Labor Member for Richmond, Justine Elliot, expressed concerns earlier this month on Bay FM that her electorate had no Pfizer available. Healthy North Coast is the organisation responsible for rolling out COVID-19 vaccines

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to hospital clinics and GPs throughout the region, and CEO Julie Sturgess says that’s happening. She says 15,500 Pfizer doses per week are available via North Coast GPs. ‘The vaccination program has been a gradual roll-out,’ Ms Sturgess said in mid-July, ‘and certainly initially, it was only Astra Zeneca available’. Ms Sturgess said the

supply of Pfizer had increased as of July. Ms Sturgess said the Pfizer roll-out is being prioritised for those aged between 40 and 59, but that anyone

under 40 who wants the Pfizer can consult with their GP and register on a wait-list. People aged 60 and older are mostly receiving the Astra Zeneca vaccine.

Ayesha Amos

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AUDIOLOGIST Chris Adelaide

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