Vol. 6 2023–2024
N OT R E P O RT I N G FA C TS , J U ST I M P R O V I N G T H E M , S I N C E 1 9 8 6 The Byron Shire Echo • Volume 37 #44 • April 12, 2023 • www.echo.net.au
Bonus magazine with this issue
Councillors to vote on railway land żëſĈĕō Ɔĕōō şǔ
Franti to the Max
Paul Bibby
When Michael Franti picked local lad, Max McAuley, out of the crowd of thousands at Bluesfest on Sunday night, he jumped at the opportunity. ‘Wow! Being on stage with Michael was all new top level!’ Max told The Echo, ‘Everyone was watching me dance – I love Michael like a brother.’ Max is no stranger to the stage – he’s a member of the Sprung!! ensemble and is currently working on a one man show. For more Bluesfest photos, see page 19. Photo Jeff ‘Maxxed Out’ Dawson Paul Bibby and Eve Jeffery The big tops are slowly coming down, instruments are being carefully stowed back in their cases, and out-of-town punters are recovering on the beach, or slowly turning their attention toward home. Such is the gradual wind down from the 34th Byron Bay Bluesfest, an event bathed in golden sunshine and tasty tunes from across the euphonic universe. Attendance numbers may have been down this year, but around 75,000 people still poured into Tyagarah for the fiveday festival.
Emergency pod accommodation update ▶ p3
The slightly smaller crowd made it easier for people to move around the site, and get close to their musical heroes, as well as easing the access and egress issues that impacted last year’s event. Incredibly, the weather was fine across virtually the entire length of the festival, meaning punters could trade in their wellies for shorts and thongs. On the first few days, Bluesfest presented the legendary Steve Earle, and by day three, delivered Buddy Guy and Jackson Browne. Buddy Guy was just brilliant – at 86 he still has everything he needs
Homeless hub chalks up its first year ▶ p4
at his finger tips – still shredding, still an envious vocal range, and still as cheeky as sin. He bade farewell to his Bluesfest audience – it was his last performance here.
Palm of Jackson’s hand Jackson Browne held every single punter in the palm of his hand, while Allison Russell brought her redemptive musical saga to Bluesfest with a powerhouse all-female band. On Sunday, Byron Shire Deputy Mayor, Councillor Sarah Ndiaye, found herself onstage in front of thousands of screaming fans at Bluesfest when festival favourite,
News from around the North Coast ▶ p8
Michael Franti, invited her to come up and sing. She told The Echo, ‘There was a sea of people. I was blown away by just how big the audience was and how warm and encouraging they all were. That helped’. There were tonnes of other great acts all through the weekend, including Loose Content, Clarence Bekker, Hussy Hicks, Christone ‘Kingfish’ Ingram, Daniel Champagne, Marcus King, Eric Gales, Jason Isbell, Bonnie Raitt, Tash Sultana, Eugene Hideaway Bridges, Trombone Shorty, and the Doobie Brothers.
The state government is trying to quietly sell off a piece of rail corridor land in the centre of Byron for residential development. In a Development Application (DA) coming before this week’s Council meeting, the government’s Transport Asset Holding Entity (TAHE) is proposing what is described as a ‘boundary adjustment’ on railway land, located at 14 Kendall Street, Byron Bay. According to the Council staff report, the government wants to incorporate 261 square metres of highly valuable beachside Belongil land into an adjoining block, so that it can become part of a private residential subdivision. The application has been initiated by the TAHE, who describe the land in question as being ‘surplus to requirements’. No private developer was mentioned in the report, however TAHE’s DA 10.2022.159.1 was referenced. However, the land may not be surplus to the requirements of those, including Byron Council, who want to get trains back on the tracks in the Byron Shire. Nevertheless, Byron Council staff make no mention of this issue in their report on the matter, stating that the formal use and management of the area to be acquired will not change. The report also indicates that the matter was only brought to the specific attention of councillors, because the land in question contains a small area of coastal wetland. Staff have recommended that councillors approve the boundary adjustment.
Bob Morgan’s case for an Indigenous Voice to Parliament ▶ p10
Scoop up this week’s features ▶ p20