Letters Housing balance Having been fortunate to live in and own a home in this area for 36 years, I know that development is inevitable. I have also advocated on behalf of homeless people in the area for 20 years. Affordable housing is crucial. I appreciate the complexity and costs of what is needed to achieve this outcome. Most of us want to maintain the natural beauty and the lifestyle which attracted us here. We want to protect the environment for future generations. We want to maintain and stay in the community we have created. I also know that developers have rights too. While there are many who consider the existing neighbourhood and environment, there are others who want to gain as much as possible for themselves at our expense and move on. So, how do we get the needs of all these interests met? Since the mandates for the new councillors were predominantly around affordable housing and protection of the environment, this is what the majority of us want. It’s a massive task ahead. So now is time for clear strategies, policies and procedures to give Byron Shire a framework to move ahead and preserve what we love about living here; rather than random new ad-hoc developments in unsuitable areas. One such inappropriate proposal is located at 25 Hardy Ave, Ocean Shores. Here, a precedent could be set, as this site is on the edge of a nature reserve, the Capricornia Canal, a riparian zone and a quiet neighbourhood. High density living, environmental impact and decreased amenity will change the character and curtilage of the area. I am aware that Council has responsibilities to ratepayers to reduce court costs that come with fighting inappropriate development, however, they also have some power to modify and change the parameters of these developments. I am hoping we can get it right so it's a win for us all. No easy job. I am relying on the new councillors’ experience, expertise and values to create this map forward. I trust they can do it. Penny Cooke Friends of Capricornia Canal
Reclaim Our Green Future Thank
The Byron Greens extend a huge thank you to all the wonderful people who voted and supported our election campaign. To all our volunteers, candidates and electors, we want you to know how valued you are. The Greens is a grassroots party, this is what makes us unique and a tribute to folks like you.
byrongreens.org
‘Here in Australia we’re fortunate enough to have one of the richest and oldest continuing cultures in the world. This is something we ƆIJşƖōĎȝëōō ćĕ żſşƖĎ şĪ ëŕĎ ĈĕōĕćſëƐĕț
Cartoon by Gary Cavanagh. Instagram: @gary_cavanagh
Big booster Elon Musk’s rocket has only one booster that will handle ongoing flights, but the pharmaceutical companies expect us to have a new booster every six months. I’d prefer to escape COVID using Elon Musk’s booster. Sapoty Brook Main Arm
Ode to gratitude This year I believe gratitude is the greatest gift I can give. I am grateful that I am able to live in Byron Bay and for the community that I experience here, despite the huge changes over the years. I volunteer where I can and I see others doing the same; I am grateful for that. In our street, we meet every few months, literally on the road, and bring a plate to share with each other. I appreciate our neighbours. I am grateful for all the business owners throughout the Shire who navigated the huge challenges over the last two years and stayed respectful, while juggling the many points of view in our community. I thank our school leaders who’ve acted with compassion and care in our schools when the mandate was handed down. To the workers who stayed and those who could not. I am grateful to all those who ran for Council with a desire to serve our community. It is a thankless task, but you held onto your visions and stepped bravely forward. I thank the workers in Woolies who have served with a smile as my children grew up here over the last 14 years. Your small kindnesses
matter. You matter. And I thank you. To the frontline workers who stood in their protective gear to take our COVID test samples – and still do – with all the risks that entails. I thank you. To our lifesavers who watch over us as we swim, thank you. To those who support the homeless and make their lives a little lighter – thank you. To the woman who pushed the abandoned shopping trolley to the top of the hill on the sandy path out of the Arakwal National Park to the roadside for collection, I tried to call out my thanks, but you were too fast for me. To the First Nations People who understand how to work in harmony with the Earth, my deepest thanks, and I hope we can become better listeners to your wisdom. There are lots of challenges to work on in our area; it is far from perfect. But I am so grateful to live here and I thank all those who continue to contribute positively to our community. I hope we can find ways to make it more affordable for others to share its beauty. Thank you. Lynne West Ocean Shores
COVID solution The main issue the ‘Freedom Fighters’ have with the state governments is that they believe COVID poses minimum health risks, if indeed it exists at all, whereas the established view is that COVID is a real danger and lifting all restrictions will cause hospitals and in particular ICUs to be overwhelmed.
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There seems to be no common ground on which a compromise can be reached, each side believing the other is dangerously misinformed. It comes down to a matter of faith in the information one holds to be true. This paradox can never be fully resolved, but a solution could be found to satisfy both sides. All mandated restrictions could be lifted, but only vaccinated people would have access to treatment in hospital or at healthcare facilities for COVID. This would provide a high level of protection for everyone working in healthcare and reduce the call on ICU beds to an acceptable level (see *note below). Although this would pose an increase in risk for the vaccinated they could still maintain precautions such as mask wearing and social distancing, as they choose. People who choose to be ▶ Continued on next page
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