T H E PA ST W E E K , W R A P P E D U P A S T H E P R E S E N T, S I N C E 1 9 8 6 The Byron Shire Echo • Volume 37 #45 • April 19, 2023 • www.echo.net.au
Govt asked to explain rail ƆĕōōȒşǔ ƆƐſëƐĕīƷ Paul Bibby The state government has ‘no strategic approach’ to the sale of rail corridor land in the Byron Shire, and may be selling pieces off without public awareness or scrutiny, Byron Council has heard. The comments were made by Greens councillor, Duncan Dey, during debate around the sale of a piece of rail corridor land for residential development on 14 Kendall Street, Byron Bay. The meeting heard that the pending sale of the 261 square metre parcel of land next to Belongil Beach will not impede any future plans to reopen the rail line in the Shire. However, it highlighted the fact that the state government’s Transport Asset Holding Entity (TAHE) sees such pockets of land as ‘surplus to requirements’, and can sell them off to developers without scrutiny, thus contributing to the erosion of the rail corridor. TAHE has not indicated who the piece of land is being sold to, and The Echo understands no attempt has been made by Council to find out. The application, listed as a ‘boundary adjustment’, only came to the attention of councillors because it contains a small area of protected wetland. ‘I want us to have a councillor workshop at which TAHE outlines their strategy for selling parts of the rail corridor in the Shire,’ Cr Dey told the meeting. ‘It appears to me that they have no strategic approach. ▶ Continued on page 2
Blankets out – it’s a street picnic! A Mullumbimby community picnic is planned Saturday May 6, between 4 and 6pm, on Burringbar Street, between Dalley and Stuart Streets. Those streets will be closed to traffic for the afternoon. Organisers say, ‘Interactive art and live music will feature throughout the afternoon, while there will be a yarning circle and surprise pop-ups to enjoy’. The town’s chamber of commerce, supported by Creative Mullumbimby and the Brunswick Valley Historical Society, are hosting the free event, to ‘remember the floods, tell stories, listen to music, participate in art making, and enjoy time and food together as a community’. Eric, the wired terrier, shares a picnic with Cedar, Joel, Harper, Vanessa and Ember. Photo Jeff Dawson
Anzac Day celebrated in Byron Shire With Anzac Day celebrated on April 25, there are numerous events being held throughout Byron Shire. Everyone is invited to attend the dawn memorial service at 5.30am on April 25, at the Byron Bay Cenotaph, located at the Rec Grounds on Tennyson Street. Breakfast will be served at the Services Club from 6.15am.
World expert on local finance, Michael Shuman, speaks May 5 ▶ p4
Assembly for the march will be at the Beach Hotel from 10.15am, with the march commencing at 10.30am. At 10.45am, the service commences at the Memorial Gates. There will be a special luncheon at the Services Club, commencing 12.30pm. In Bangalow, the march starts at 10.40am from Bangalow Hotel,
North Coast news ▶ p6
Vale Tony Zillig, 1944–2023 ▶ p7
Byron Street, to Station Street for a short outdoor service at the RSL memorial.
The dawn service in Brunswick Heads will be held at the Cenotaph in Memorial Park, Fawcett Street, starting at 5am. Participants should gather at 4.45am.
In Mullumbimby, the dawn service will be held at 4.30am at the Cenotaph, opposite the Ex-Services Club. This will be followed by breakfast at the club, which is free for veterans, and $10 for non veterans. The mid-morning march will leave at 10.50am from Apex Park. A civil service follows directly after the march.
Anzac Day – what it means to us today ▶ p10
Health, healing and wellbeing in Byron and beyond ▶ p20
Byron, Bangalow, Mullum
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