The Byron Shire Echo – Issue 38.31 – January 10, 2024

Page 1

ALL THIS RAIN IS GOOD FOR PERSONAL GROWTH The Byron Shire Echo • Volume 38 #31 • January 10, 2024 • www.echo.net.au

lëƷşſ ćëĈŊƆ ƆƐëǔ şưĕſ Big festival in little hall żſşIJĶćĶƐĶưĕ ĈşƆƐƆ şŕ DwP Hans Lovejoy

A

freedom of information request by The Echo for the public submissions provided to Council around a recently adopted major rural land rezoning policy has been quoted by staff at $2,808. The quote to redact the names of 286 submissions from the Housing Options Paper was discounted from an original cost of $5,616. As previously reported, the Housing Options Paper was adopted in December 2023 and heavily criticised by community groups, not only for its secrecy, but because of the poor process that underpinned it. Mullum flood-prone land was included without public feedback, and a large land parcel in Tyagarah was also put forward to the NSW government for consideration, again without public feedback. It will ‘inform’ an upcoming residential strategy. In correspondence to The Echo, staff claim it would take to 187.20 hours to redact 286 submissions, or at a 40 hour week, 4.68 weeks. Their hourly rate for the service is $30ph. A review of the decision has been requested by The Echo, given the workload does not appear commensurate with the hours quoted and does not adhere to Council’s stated policies of informing the public around their decision making. Additionally, there appears no legal requirement for Council to be redacting names and addresses of public submissions. Neighbouring Ballina and Tweed Shire councils publish all public submissions, according to their websites.

Former hospital site plan proposes 130 dwellings ▶ p5

According to ballina.nsw.gov. au/your-privacy: ‘Submissions to advertised documents and development applications will be treated as public documents and may be published online in Council meeting reports and agendas or listed on our DAs online portal’.

Neighbouring shires provide transparency Despite the transparency from those councils, both Mayor Michael Lyon and acting General Manager, Shannon Burt, claim there are privacy laws that prohibit them from providing it. The Echo asked Mayor Michael Lyon if $2,808 was acceptable, ‘given it’s the community who gave Council this information?’ He replied, ‘I have looked into the quote you were given and yes, for the amount of time and effort required for the task following the requirements of the GIPA legislation, I am comfortable that this is a fair amount for the work required’. ‘Submissions cannot just be made public in a simple way for a number of reasons. Firstly, privacy legislation requires the redaction of personal information. Secondly, submissions must be read to ensure that no defamatory content is contained and published, otherwise we can become liable for the content’. The Echo also asked the mayor, ‘Will you instruct that future submissions on policy to be made public (as has been done in the past), and also provide The Echo with the Housing Options Paper submissions for free in the spirit of transparency and trust?’ ▶ Continued on page 3

Mullum sees spate of shoplifting ▶ p6

Broadcaster Angela Catterns and musician Gyan will be in conversation at The Drill Hall on Saturday as part of the Too Young to be Angels season. Photo Eve Jeffery Big things are happening in a little Mullum hall, with the Too Young To Be Angels production now in full swing. If you just picked up your Echo on Wednesday, there are still plenty of events on at the Drill Hall, including well-known local filmmakers in conversation on Wednesday night from 7pm: Richard Mordaunt and Michael Balson, followed by James Ricketson and David Bradbury. On Thursday, Michael Sharmon and Sandra Leung Waters present their cabaret show, You By My Side. Co-curater, Gregory Aitken, told The Echo, ‘A special Friday night screening remembering two Australian film greats, plus three

Liquidating the national estate – David Lowe ▶ p10

cabarets, will dominate the final nights of the season’. ‘There will be the unveiling of Tony Barry’s portrait before the documentary Sydney at War: The Untold Story, (Tony did the voice over), followed by the screening of Claude Gonzalez’ John Farrow: Hollywood’s Man in the Shadows. ‘It’s the first documentary ever made about the enigmatic Australian born Oscar winning director’.

Free events on Sunday On Saturday (January 13), songstress and ARIA award winner, Gyan, will present a concert, weaving stories of her life and music with broadcaster Angela Catterns.

Take a fresh look at Byron Bay’s local biz ▶ p15

On Sunday (January 14), a morning of free events will kick off from 11am with The Eldershaw Chronicles launch of Stephen Edgar’s verse play. At noon, an archived comical video performance by the late Michael Borenstein will screen. Also on Sunday from 7pm, Divine Cabaret will perform in a grand finale to the season. Curated by Gregory Aitken and Sunita Bailey, the event aims to raise funds for the hall’s newly installed Beale piano, as well as the upcoming premiere production of Stephen Edgar’s The Eldershaw Chronicles. For more info visit www. drillhalltheatre.org.au/ too-young-to-be-angels.

Summer lovin’ ▶ p18

Assorted tradies and whatnot ▶ p33

*#48'56 6*' 5705 219'4 6TCPUHQTO YKVJ UQNCT DTKNNKCPEG VQFC[ RPC.COM.AU |

SOLAR SPECIALISTS SINCE 1987

| 02 6689 1430


Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.