P R I C E L E S S , J U ST L I K E J U L I A N A S S A N G E ’ S F R E E D O M The Byron Shire Echo • Volume 39 #03 • June 26, 2024 • www.echo.net.au
!şŕǖĶĈƐ ĈōëĶŔƆ ſĕŇĕĈƐĕĎ şưĕſ lƖōōƖŔȜƆ ĪƖƐƖſĕ ƱëƐĕſ żōëŕƆ Hans Lovejoy The consultant who advises both Byron Council and water utility Rous has defended accusations that they have a perceived non-pecuniary conflict of interest in undertaking work for multiple clients. Members of Council’s Water and Sewer Advisory Committee (WSAC) made the claim against consultant Hydrosphere, given the firm provides advice for both Council and Rous. The WSAC members, all who have expertise in water engineering, are Ben Fawcett, Greens Cr Duncan Dey and Greens councillor candidate Elia Hauge. Last week, The Echo reported that their specific questions around the strategy remain unanswered by Council staff. Public submissions close June 30 for the future of Mullum’s water supply, which is currently sourced locally from the Wilsons Creek weir. Council staff are pushing to disconnect it, in favour of the town being supplied instead by Rous County Council via its Rocky Creek Dam near Lismore. This view is informed by Hydrosphere’s report. Cr Dey says the mayor has adopted the position of staff and the consultant, and may be pushing the agenda behind closed doors. Mayor Michael Lyon’s reply, which was received too late for publication, will be published next week.
!şŕǖĶĈƐ ĕƶżōëĶŕĕĎ Cr Dey said of the perceived conflict is that the consultant ‘recommends to Rous that it find new sources to satisfy growing demand. Then it recommends to Council that it close down Lavertys Gap and connect to Rous, thus adding demand’.
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Remarkably, while councillors, staff and advisory committee members are required to declare interests and conflicts, consultants are under no such obligation. The Echo asked staff why consultants were not required to adhere to a code of conduct when advising Council in technical reports, for example. Staff replied, ‘Consultants do need to declare pecuniary interests to Council meetings they’re part of’. ‘But beyond that, the Code comes from the Local Government Act 1993, which is drafted and regulated by the NSW government’. Staff also said, ‘Council has not received any formal complaints alleging breaches of the code regarding the Mullumbimby Water Supply Strategy’. The Echo asked consultant Hydrosphere, ‘Does Hydrosphere believe it has a perceived nonpecuniary conflict of interest in providing advice and reports to two clients (Council and Rous) who share financial interests?’ Mick Howland from the company replied in part, ‘Hydrosphere Consulting does not have any conflict of interest in undertaking work for multiple clients’. He said, ‘If we were to become aware of a conflict of interest during the execution of a project then we would refer the issue to the client and determine how or whether we would continue to undertake the project’. ‘As consultants, we are subject to council procurement policies and are to expected to comply with statements of business ethics and numerous other guidelines which ensure ethical dealings’.
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Ei Yang and Zimi Forrest from d’Vine Creations. Photo Jeff ‘But I’m Not Dead Yet!’ Dawson Paul Bibby
M
uch has been said and written about sustainable burial in recent years. Many locals are keen to avoid the chemicals and harmful compounds that go with conventional practices, and have advocated for a natural burial ground in the shire. But what if we could not only minimise the impact of the moment when we are laid to rest, but in fact, help to replenish and regenerate the planet as we do so? This is the philosophy behind the work of Ocean Shores artisan, Zimmi Forest, who is introducing the shire to the ancient art of coffin weaving. Ms Forest and her team take the vines from the invasive, introduced species Uncaria tomentosa – colloquially known as cat’s claw – and weave them into beautifully made coffins. Not only are the coffin’s
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completely sustainable and biodegradable, coming from a plant that is ubiquitous in the Northern Rivers, but the very act of harvesting them helps to reduce their damaging spread through the local ecosystem.
lëĎĕ ĪſşŔ ĈëƐȜƆ ĈōëƱ ‘The cat’s claw is quite literally killing the trees,’ says Ms Forest, who has been weaving and teaching others how to do so for 30 years. ‘For the last 30 years, people have been cutting it, and putting poison on it, which makes no difference whatsoever other than that it poisons the environment. ‘What we’re doing is a regenerative idea. We’re on the path to reduce the weed and remove it. If we can get the community to get involved and really embrace this the potential differences are huge.’ While woven coffins are available in Australia, virtually none of them are made here.
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The vast majority are imported from Asia, and are not made using invasive weeds, but monocrops such as willow that are introduced and farmed in unsustainable ways. Ms Zimmi is seeking to break this monopoly and make coffin weaving a truly regenerative practice here.
ÉşſŊƆIJşżƆ A key part of Ms Forest’s project is workshops where people can build their own coffin – designing their own shape and style and adding personal touches such as flowers and pieces of cherished material. The first official workshops will take place in October. However, there will be a taster workshop on the weekend of July 6 at the Country Women’s Association Hall in Brunswick Heads – visit beforeandafterlife.com.au for more info. For more information about Ms Forest’s business, visit www.weavingnature.com.
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