THE BYRON SHIRE
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Robert Dessaix Do our drug laws make Survive the reviews Vargan poetry for a safer community? school holidays – p12 – p13 – p16–17
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Five new faces on Everything old is a bargain again Byron Shire Council Michael McDonald
In a remarkable change to the local political climate, five new councillors have been voted on to Byron Shire Council. They are the Greens’ Michael Lyon, Jeanette Martin and Sarah Ndiaye, Country Labor’s Jan Hackett, and Cate Coorey of Community Byron. They join Greens mayor Simon Richardson, Country Labor’s Paul Spooner, Alan Hunter of Byron Shire in Balance and Our Sustainable Future’s Basil Cameron. The Greens’ group total was 6,773 votes, followed by Country Labor 3,048, Byron Shire in Balance 1,746, Our Sustainable Future 1,482, and Community Byron 630. The only other councillor seeking re-election, Rose Wanchap, picked up 613 for her group The Middle Ground. Of the councillor candidates, Lyon was elected first on the massive preference flow from Richardson’s mayoral run, followed by Spooner, Martin, Ndiaye, Cameron,
Hunter, Hackett and Coorey. In the mayoral race, Mayor Simon Richardson achieved an ‘absolute majority’ – 50 per cent of the vote plus one vote – on the distribution of preferences last Thursday, when candidate Jack Sugarman was the first to be eliminated. On that distribution the vote tally was Richardson 8,182, Paul Spooner 3,394, Alan Hunter 1,934, Basil Cameron 1,860, Rose Wanchap 990, Jack Sugarman 483. Overall there were 16,474 formal votes and 741 informal votes, out of a total 24,856 electors enrolled as of August 1. Though the Greens and Labor are likely to have differences of opinion it will probably be a much more civil atmosphere than that generated by the argumentative 2012–16 council. Alan Hunter, a former National Party federal candidate, could be regarded as the ‘odd man out’ in ideological stances. See the full result at http://vtr. elections.nsw.gov.au/byron-shirecouncil/councillor.
TPP faces the pub test The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) is a legally binding trade agreement which has been negotiated between Australia, the US and ten other Pacific Rim countries. The agenda has been driven by US corporate interests, and it expands corporate rights at the expense of people’s rights. Dr Pat Ranald will speak about the Trans-Pacific Partnership at New Politics in the Pub at the
Court House Hotel in Mullumbimby on Wednesday September 28 at 6.30pm. Dr Ranald has published widely on the social impacts of globalisation and trade agreements and is coordinator of the Australian Fair Trade and Investment Network (www.aftinet.org.au), which advocates for fair trade policies based on human rights, labour rights and environmental sustainability.
Ayesha Callahan, right, and Suzie Mylecharane gear up for the big garage sale. Photo Jeff Dawson
The north coast’s biggest garage sale day of the year is on again on Saturday September 24. With over 700 garage sales as part of this year’s event, and 100 in Byron Shire alone, Second Hand Saturday is bound to be a highlight of the year for bargain hunters. It’s also an easy way to do your bit for the environment by reusing and recycling pre-loved goods.
Something for everyone Linda Tohver from North East Waste says that garage sale registrations have been coming in thick and fast with a huge range of treasures on offer. ‘From building materials to caravans, to scooters, bikes and cars, to household goods, quality
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antiques and even Elvis costumes – there will be something for everyone,’ says Linda. ‘We encourage people to shop secondhand and take part in this great community event ,which aims to give goods a second life and reduce landfill.’ Suzie Mylecharane is holding a ‘shed’ garage sale in Myocum, with plenty on offer including ladies’ designer clothes and furniture from Dubai. ‘We took part in last year’s
Second Hand Saturday and were pleasantly surprised at how many people were out and about following a garage sale trail,’ she said. The full list of garage sales is on the Second Hand Saturday website www.secondhandsaturday.com.au. The event is coordinated by North East Waste on behalf of north coast councils and is funded by the NSW EPA’s Waste Less Recycle More initiative.
Police rescue man from burning car A car crashed into a tree and burst into flames after driving over a police officer’s foot during a pursuit on Skinners Shoot Road, Byron Bay, in the early hours of Sunday morning. Police were patrolling Shirley
Street at about 3.30am (Saturday September 17), when they tried to stop a Subaru Liberty being driven without headlights. They allege the vehicle drove off, reaching an continued on page 2
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