Echo Beach
THE BYRON SHIRE Volume 27 #45 Tuesday, April 23, 2013 Phone 02 6684 1777 Fax 02 6684 1719 editor@echo.net.au adcopy@echo.net.au www.echo.net.au 23,200 copies every week
Inside this week
New surfing feature – page 17
CAB AUDIT
THINK OUTSIDE – NO BOX REQUIRED
Pete Council Premier Roads made School days Ears glued are here Murray in session wrangling cycleways to the gigs again – p22 – p18 – p24 – p7 – p10 – p24–29
OS Roundhouse site to be sold
Byron Shire Council Notices Page 44
Mullum market celebrates third year
After years of debate, councillors vote to sell Councillors finally voted to sell Ocean Shores Roundhouse site at last Thursday’s meeting, signalling attempts to balance a $10 million budget shortfall. ‘New times’ is how mayor Simon Richardson described his decision to vote for all eleven lots to be subdivided. But it didn’t appear easy times for the relatively new councillors, as many struggled with having to renege on their pre-election commitments to retain the property for community use. Recently, the ‘community use’ was a business proposal by Ocean Shores residents to turn the prime real estate into a community operated gallery and museum, funded from developing apartments on the property. All voted in favour of the sale except Cr Chris Cubis. Tenders will be called for construction of the subdivision works and for the marketing of the 11 lots. The council has now come full circle after spending more than $3 million in the 1990s purchasing and defending in the courts its rezoning of the property for community use.
Priorities are changing During debate, Cr Duncan Dey was one of the few who was satisfied with the staff recommendation and was ‘happy to move ahead’. But deputy mayor Di Woods was not as easily swayed. ‘I originally supported the proposal… as long as it didn’t cost any money. Given our [financial] situation, it puts it in a different light. We need footpaths and lighting for Ocean Shores… New Brighton has drainage problems… and then there’s sports fields.’ She told the gallery she accepts that she ‘made a promise to support the
community proposal, but can’t see how that would [now] occur’. ‘If a developer came forward that would be great. My priorities are changing.’ Similarly Cr Richardson said it was a very hard decision. ‘I never thought I would be voting in favour of an urban renewal project instead of a community space… but we need to show our financial credentials. ‘Gifting land for social benefit could be a thing of the past. I have reservations that ten million dollars [for the project] could be raised. The trade off is that Ocean Shores will benefit from much needed infrastructure.’ At one point Cr Richardson suggested he would be willing explore selling it to a community group cheaper than market value. All councillors agreed that money from the sale should be spent on infrastructure projects for the north of the shire. Jan Mangleson, spokesperson for the Ocean Shores Community Association (OSCA) and the Roundhouse Action Group (RAG), said Council gave her community groups ‘no chance to address any issues raised in the Council report because it was marked confidential and not released to the public.’ ‘At the last moment, councillors voted to debate the issue in public session and release part of the two page report, keeping financial matters confidential,’ Ms Mangleson said. ‘OSCA and RAG had to anticipate what issues Council might raise in its confidential report. The report when released to the gallery was only two pages. This was supposed to be
With hair to match their colourful fruit flats, Kylie and Stephen Cridland from Rainbow Fruits are a favourite market stop for kids of all ages to get their fruity market treats. Story & photo Eve Jeffery
The Mullumbimby Farmers Market celebrated their third birthday last Friday under a shiny day full of fun, laughter and colour. The Shearwater school performed throughout the morning, and activities included candle making workshops, real fairies facepainting and treats for everyone. The prize for the most colourfully dressed stallholder went to Garry Rogers from The Honey Wagon stall, who
looked like a jolly green yowee and the most colourful couple was definitely Kylie and Stephen Cridland from Rainbow Fruits. Kylie says that she and husband Stephen have had their stall in Mullum for three years and have been attending markets for 11 years in the area. The pair wore matching mohawks in the style of their dried fruit flats and their stall was a hive of activity. ‘The atmosphere at the Mullumbimby Farmers Market is great’, says Kylie. ‘The customers are easy going and you see them rain hail or shine.’
Correction to bike shop story Anzac Day
Last week’s story ‘Byron Bike Shop To Close After 22 Years’ referred to Gold Coast developer Robert Badalotti as the owner of the Byron Woolies Plaza. The Echo wishes to make it clear that he is the owner of the Woolworths building and the southern end of the plaza, and does not own the northern end of the plaza, where the bike shop is located. The Echo apologises to Mr Badalotti continued on page 2 for not making this clear in the article.
Mr Badalotti has told The Echo that he does care about Byron Bay, and that he has commenced significant and extensive refurbishment works to the southern portion of the Woolworths Plaza and has engaged local agents Raine and Horne Byron Bay to assist with the leasing and sales of this portion of the centre. More information will be published on this as it comes to hand.
All servicemen and women are invited to take part in the Anzac Day Commemorations this coming Thursday at the following locations:. In Bangalow the parade will assemble at Memorial Park, near the roundabout at 10.30am, ready for the march down Byron Street to the RSL Memorial Hall in Station Street. A short wreath-laying ceremony will continued on page 2
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