IT’S WHAT SOMEBODY SOMEWHERE WANTS TO SUPPRESS, PLUS ADVERTISING! The Byron Shire Echo • Volume 39 #02 • June 19, 2024 • www.echo.net.au
Writers Festival program with this issue!
Nina and her Pocket sand dragon Council candidates BWF_ProgramDesi
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jostle for position Paul Bibby
At Sunday’s Pocket School Winter Festival, Nina shows how to tame your sand dragon, created by Sandology’s Steve Machell. Photo Jeff ‘Sand Sculptures’ Dawson
Have your say on Byron Bay’s foreshore
H
ow would you like to see Byron Bay’s foreshore improved? Council staff have proposed options and a ten-year vision for the much-used space, including the removal, or partial removal, of the carpark overlooking Main Beach. A multi-storey carpark behind the pool and an upgrade of Apex Park is also proposed, along with the planned retreat (relocation) of the Beach Byron Bay cafe at Clarkes Beach. The plans, now on Council’s website until July 31, drew ire from some locals on social media, especially surfers, who use the carpark to check the surf.
Mark ‘Mono’ Stewart wrote, ‘It’s time for Byron Bay locals to stand up and make some noise if you want to retain the only vehicleaccessible view area of our Bay’. ‘Say no to these current suggestions. Say yes to improving the area without losing half the carpark. Improve the beachfront areas east of the surf club, so those who want to walk to view the bay, without being near cars, can sit comfortably and take in our beautiful bay. ‘The pictures they paint in this proposal are pretty, but beware, you think it’s hard to get a park now, it will be near impossible if this goes through! ‘Get active on this, as we only
have until the end of July’. On page 19 within the 47-page document is the disclaimer that the Coastal Management Program (CPM) is yet to be completed, which could change any plans adopted by councillors.
Byron business perspectives during a tough winter ▶ p4
Unanswered questions over Mullum’s water strategy ▶ p6
CMP yet to be adopted The Byron Foreshore Landscape Concept says a CMP entails the ‘removal, or not, of spur groynes, landward realignment or not’. ‘This foreshore concept plan has been designed to the existing rock wall structure, but will be updated if required, once the preferred design option for coastal protection has been determined’.
Inequity underpins solar-battery rebates ▶ p14
It was the type of motion that comes up at Byron Council quite regularly – a broad, uncontroversial political statement that is unlikely to make a difference in the grand scheme of things. But when there’s a local election coming up, the typical can very quickly become political. And so it was with a motion put by Deputy Mayor and Greens mayoral candidate, Sarah Ndiaye, at last week’s Council meeting. Cr Ndiaye moved that Council note the findings of a year-old report on food security, write to six different state government ministers asking them to take action, and explore what might be done to address the issue locally. Seems pretty benign, right? Yet, five minutes after moving it, Cr Ndiaye’s motion had become the forum for a jostling match among the key candidates in the upcoming local council election. ‘This is a real indication of where we’re at,’ Cr Ndiaye said after an amendment to her motion made by mayoral opponent Michael Lyon was passed instead of her own. ‘We get to a point here where you’re close to an election… this is quite shameful,’ Cr Ndiaye said. ‘Shame on you.’ The discussion began in fairly uncontroversial fashion with Cr Ndiaye speaking in support of her motion. ‘I think we’re all aware, other than Cr Hunter, that there is some degree of challenge in terms of food security,’ Cr Ndiaye said.
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‘This motion before us is an opportunity not just to advocate, but participate in a more sustainable food future in the Northern Rivers region. ‘We can join Clarence Valley, Ballina, Lismore and Kyogle in working toward better food security.’ But not everyone agreed. Cr Alan Hunter, who will not contest the upcoming election, said he did not support the motion, and that the motion was akin to ‘dancing before the crowd because there’s an election coming up’. This kicked off a spiteful 15 minutes of debate which was less than edifying. Mayor Michael Lyon, who is battling Cr Ndiaye to retain his current leadership position at the September 14 election, agreed with Cr Hunter and described the motion as ‘virtue signalling’.
Virtue signals ‘I’m not here to virtue signal, I’m here to get things done,’ Cr Lyon said. Crs Lyon and Hunter moved an amendment which effectively amounted to a substantially cutdown version of Cr Ndiaye’s motion, proposing that Council note the findings of two recent food security reports and write to the NSW agriculture minister requesting a response. They had the numbers, with Cr Lyon’s running mate Cr Mark Swivel (independent) joining Labor Cr Asren Pugh and independent Cr Peter Westheimer in voting for the amendment. On the other side was Cr Ndiaye, outgoing Greens councillor Duncan ▶ Continued on page 2
Positive choices for your health and wellbeing in Byron Healing ▶ p20
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Tasty morsels in The Good Life ▶ p22