NAMES [NOT] CHANGED TO [NOT] PROTECT THE [NOT] INNOCENT
With this issue
The Byron Shire Echo • Volume 38 #52 • June 5, 2024 • www.echo.net.au THE
The push is on to preserve Mullum’s local water supply
Chuckles in the Green Room
!şƖŕĈĶō ƆƐëǔ ſĕĈşŔŔĕŕĎ żĕſŔëŕĕŕƐ şƖƆ ĈşŕŕĕĈƐĶşŕ Ben Fawcett
You know it’s funny when the comedians crack themselves up. Ivan Aristeguieta, Bev Killick, Danielle Walker and Lewis Garnham were priming themselves in the Great Northern Hotel’s green room, which is decorated with 35 years of rock ’n roll history. They were part of the Byron Comedy Fest, which brought a weekend of laughter to town. Photo Jeff ‘Did You Hear The One About…’ Dawson
Wallum’s cultural heritage approval challenged Paul Bibby A group of Traditional Owners with deep cultural connections to the Wallum heathlands in Brunswick Heads have applied for the site to receive long-term protection under federal law. The application was made last week under Section 10 of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage Protection Act 1984, which provides for the long-term protection of significant Aboriginal areas that are ‘under threat of injury or desecration’. The fate of the application now lies in the hands of Federal Environment Minister, Tanya Plibersek, who also has the power to determine
how long areas of Aboriginal significance are protected for. A Save Wallum spokesperson said the claim was made by lawyers acting for representatives of seven clans of the Bundjalung Nation, including Minyungbal, Widjabal Wiabul, Bandjalang, Githabul, Arakwal, Yaegl, as well as West Bundjalung and regional clans with associations to the site including Yugambeh and Mulanjali. The application sets out the key aspects of cultural significance on the site, including Aboriginal pathways, culturally significant pre-colonial trees, and the powerful cultural and totemic associations held by the threatened species which reside on the site.
Let’s rumble Parting observations on Byron Bay’s with mayoral candidates! ▶ p11 economy ▶ p2
Section 10 applications can take a minimum of six months to process. The Wallum site is already the subject of a cultural heritage report submitted back in 2009 by Everick Heritage Consultants, who were commissioned by Wallum developer, Clarence Property. That report, which found that the site did not contain areas of particular cultural significance, is a contested document, despite a majority of councillors supporting it. Leweena Williams, representing the Tweed Byron Aboriginal Land Council (TBALC), told councillors in February that her organisation stands by their cultural assessment of the Bruns Wallum site. They were contacted in relation to this story.
David Heilpern on ways to address DV ▶ p12
From this week, until the end of June, Byron Shire Council is seeking community input on staff’s proposal to connect Mullumbimby’s water to Rous County Council, which supplies other towns in Byron Shire, as well as three other neighbouring shires. Mullumbimby’s founders demonstrated great foresight 100 years ago when they constructed the Lavertys Gap weir across Wilsons Creek. It provided an independent, reliable source of both electricity and water for the town. Mullumbimby’s water treatment plant, from the weir, came into existence in 1939, and currently feeds the town’s network via the Azalea Street reservoir. Following droughts in 2002-03, a study was carried out in 2005, including two workshops with all stakeholders. At those workshops, the Mullumbimby community expressed a strong preference for retaining the Lavertys Gap weir. Council resolved to retain the supply from the weir. Meanwhile, a pipe was built connecting the eastern half of the town to the supply from Rous, on Gulgan Road, for use in emergencies. Drought returned in 2019, reducing the flow in Wilsons Creek to a trickle in December. For the first time, and for just 30 days, the emergency supply was turned on to supplement the limited supply from Lavertys Gap before rain replenished the creek flow. This prompted a review by consultant Hydrosphere of the adequacy and reliability of the supply from Wilsons Creek, as
Much ado about racism ▶ p15
population increases and the risk of more frequent droughts arise owing to climate change. Construction of Rous’s emergency water connection to the Azalea Street reservoir is underway, at a cost of $5m. The final Hydrosphere report outlines two principal options for the future: continued use of Lavertys Gap, with the addition of water storage in an off-stream reservoir in the valley between Wilsons Creek and the town; or abandonment of the supply from Wilsons Creek and permanent connection to the Rous supply, which Council staff strongly support.
¨ſĶżōĕȒćşƐƐşŔȒōĶŕĕ The local option, continuing to use the local supply from Wilsons Creek, is the preference of the Water and Sewer Advisory Committee (WSAC) because it stacks up better with triple-bottom-line measures. Principles of triple-bottom-line analysis include contributions to environmental health and social wellbeing, as well as economic analysis. Socially, the local option offers Mullumbimby a far more robust system than relying on Rous. WSAC members say the local option is also a winner on environmental grounds. By including a reservoir holding three to six months’ supply, the creek itself will not need to be tapped into in times of flood, nor during drought. Rous, on the other hand are still searching for new supplies to satisfy growth in the four shires that they service. They have not yet found the reliable supplies that ▶ Continued on page 3
Murwillumbah on the up and up ▶ p22
Just arting about ▶ p24