LOCKDOWN! Some of our advertisers will have been affected by the sudden lockdown, and may not have had time to amend their ads with updated information.
WHAT DOESN’T KILL YOU MUTATES AND TRIES AGAIN The Byron Shire Echo • Volume 36 #09 • August 11, 2021 • www.echo.net.au
Byron in lockdown With a snap seven-day lockdown being imposed upon four north coast council areas from 6pm Monday August 9, the ability for hospitals to respond to a high caseload of acutely sick people appears limited. The lockdown was sparked by a Sydney man aged in his 50s, with the virus, who breached lockdown orders and travelled to the area. He remains in Lismore Base Hospital, along with two other close contacts of the man who have also contracted the virus. NSW Health say the man had been in the Byron Shire from July 31. The Echo understands that there are just two ICU beds in Tweed Hospital, two in Lismore Base Hospital and none at the Byron Hospital. The Local Health District (LHD) was asked to confirm, but they have so far not replied. The lockdown for Byron, Ballina, Lismore and Richmond Valley shires is supported by local MPs Janelle Saffin (Labor, Lismore) and Tamara Smith (Greens, Ballina). Similar to Sydney’s Public Health Orders, schools are closed for the duration. NSW Health says, ‘As a
precaution, everybody who is in the following local government areas should immediately isolate and have a COVID-19 test if they have even the mildest of symptoms: Byron Shire, Richmond Valley, Tweed, Lismore, Kyogle and Ballina’. Health authorities and government MPs are urging anyone who has any symptoms, or is a close or casual contact of a person with COVID-19, to isolate and get tested immediately. The Cavanbah Centre’s drive in testing clinic is open on Ewingsdale Road.
Close contact locations Close contact locations in the region, according to the Local Health District, are as follows: Bangalow’s Foodworks on August 2 from 9.45 till 11.15am, Byron Woolies on August 4 from 2.30 till 4pm, Bangalow Pharmacy on August 5 and 6, both from 11 till 11.30am, Byron’s Japonaise Kitchen on August 6 from 5 till 5.30pm and Harvest Cafe, Newrybar, on August 7 from 9.45 till 10.20am. Lockdown ends 12.01am, Tuesday August 17… hopefully.
Correction to Butler St story Last week’s front page story regarding the Butler Street Reserve contained some errors, including the name of the consultants who conducted the Butler Street investigations – Cavvanba Consulting. The company’s Rob McLelland told The Echo that acid sulphate soils were not discovered as reported, ‘nor investigated and were not the reason for debate over the future of the site’.
No need for panic buys!
Mr McLelland also said the report was misquoted regarding polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) The correct quote is: ‘No PFAS exceedances of public open space health-based criteria were reported in all the samples collected from the former site surface and/or landfill material. The site is considered suitable for the proposed community use for open space, market place and car parking’.
Shoppers again went after toilet paper on Monday, after the state government announced a seven-day lockdown for some Local Government Areas (LGAs). Yet, based upon the events of last time, there was no need for panic buying, as supply chains aren’t disrupted. Photo of Woolies employee, Drew, by Jeff ‘Papers, Please’ Dawson
Push to help Byron’s homeless A fundraising campaign by Byron Community Centre and Creative Capital has launched to assist in the reopening of Fletcher Street Cottage for Byron’s homeless community. Co-organiser, Katie Love, says the reopening of Fletcher Street Cottage will be without government funding, and will rely on community support to provide this service hub for our community’s most vulnerable. The aim is to raise $250,000 to renovate the building, she says, which is owned by Council. Previously it ran as a drop-in centre, and closed five years ago, owing to lack of funding. ‘Planned improvements include
Local small biz owners Business case kept on lockdown impacts secret for large ▶ p4 bioenergy facility ▶ p8
The psychology of COVID-19 compliance ▶ p13
fitting it out with furniture, building a commercial kitchen, adding showers, storage lockers, and turning the front and back yards into a safe and welcoming refuge’.
One-stop-shop Louise O’Connell, Byron Community Centre general manager described it as a ‘one-stop-shop, where people can come and have breakfast, access a counsellor, have a shower, do their laundry, talk to housing specialists and access other services’. While funding has been secured through the Goninan Foundation for a manager to run the new
Child sponsorship and the aid debate ▶ p14
homelessness hub, Fletcher Street Cottage will need additional donations, beyond the renovations, to help keep the lights on, because it’s reopening without any government support. A local woman, Silver, who used to frequent Fletcher Street Cottage, says that when she had no fixed address, ‘You are predominately in survival mode, so your nervous system and adrenal glands are exhausted. Anywhere you can find, where you can experience some calm and a sense of safety, is so important’. Tax deductible donations can be made at www.fletcherstreetcottage.com.au.
#supportlocal ▶ p18 The Scoop ▶ p21 Arts feature ▶ p24