ARACHNOPHOBIA IS SO STUPID – JUST LET THE SPIDERS GET MARRIED The Byron Shire Echo • Volume 39 #04 • July 3, 2024 • www.echo.net.au
Echo Property Magazine with this issue T
Nudity to be banned at Carnival of tight ropes returns Oct 4–6 Tyagarah by NPWS While Tyagarah residents have welcomed the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) decision to close the Clothing-Optional Area (COA) within Tyagarah Nature Reserve by August 30, naturists who use the beach have contested the decision-making process, and claim concerns around public safety are not supported by police statistics. A NPWS senior media advisor said in a media statement the decision followed ‘extensive consultation and careful consideration’. They said, ‘A recent stakeholder workshop was held during March, which included representatives from NSW Police, local businesses, community associations and naturist groups, and no viable alternative locations for the COA were identified’. ‘NPWS has requested that Byron Shire Council extend the permissibility of the COA from June 30 2024 to August 30, which will allow appropriate notification for the naturist community’. According to the NPWS’s ‘decision brief’, both Mayor Michael Lyon and General Manager Mark Arnold ‘support ceasing the COA’. President of Northern Rivers Naturists, Bradley Benham, told The Echo the NPWS claim of ‘extensive consultation’ was just a ‘single two-hour roundtable in March’. Benham also rejected ongoing concerns regarding public safety as a reason to close the beach. He said, ‘Concerns regarding public safety are not supported by police statistics’. ‘Northern Rivers Naturists requests that the section of beach
A new fire station set for Byron Bay ▶ p4
from the south boundary of Tyagarah Nature Reserve to 200m north of the Bayshore Drive access track be reinstated as a legal co-optional clothing beach’. ‘This north Byron/Sunrise Beach section was part of the legal co-beach designated in 1998, and operated as such until 2018. This section is under Council management and not affected by the jurisdictional error over who manages the beach’.
Safety concerns Gyan Moyes from the Tyagarah Community Association told The Echo the NPWS decision ‘shows a genuine concern for the safety of women and families’. ‘It is not only a win for those women who spoke out about the sexual violence towards them, but also a win for those who were too shattered and frightened to do so. ‘Byron Bay residents and visitors are traumatised and fed up with predatory behaviour associated with the clothing-optional area, occurring in the Tyagarah Nature Reserve and spilling out into nearby locations. ‘We are looking forward to working with residents, the National Parks and Wildlife Service and other stakeholders, to ensure the nature reserve and its beach become safe again’, Mr Moyes added.
Behaviour disputed Yet naturist, Duncan James, disputes that predatory behaviour is still an issue for the area, telling The Echo naturists removed the ▶ Continued on page 3
Security guards, arrests and a Wallum tea party ▶ p7
After a sell-out event in 2022, the National Circus Festival is returning to the Mullumbimby Showgrounds October 4–6, with another world-class program of more than 100 events. Acts announced so far include the all-female powerhouse company Yuck Circus and internationally-acclaimed circus company Casus. Discounted early bird tickets for the National Circus Festival are on sale from Wednesday, July 3, until Friday, July 26 (or until sold out). Visit www.nationalcircusfestival.com for more info. The full program will be announced August 21. Pictured front are festival director, Alice Cadwell with Chiara Mordaunt. Ronja Laemmlein is in pink and Harper Salom is in blue. Photo Jeff ‘Tights And Ropes Since 1986’ Dawson
Councillors denounce local hate speech and boycotts Byron Shire Council has strongly condemned expressions of hate and any boycotts of local businesses stemming from the war in Gaza. The move followed a debate at last week’s Council meeting, which highlighted the bitter division within sections of the community over the ongoing conflict. Local residents from the different sides attended the meeting in response to a motion put forward by Independent councillor Cate
Coorey, and Greens Cr Duncan Dey. Their original motion, which was subsequently amended, condemned what the movers described as ‘war crimes being carried out by Israel against the people of Gaza’. It also stated that ‘boycotts, divestment and sanctions are legitimate, non-violent tactics used to pressure foreign governments over human rights abuses and war crimes’. These and other statements from the original motion produced a strong reaction from the local
residents representing the different sides of the conflict who spoke during the public access section of the meeting. This forum degenerated at times into a slanging match, with residents and councillors alike the focus of strong criticism and personal attacks. When the motion eventually came up for debate by councillors, Mayor Michael Lyon (Independent) and Deputy Mayor Sarah Ndiaye (Greens) put forward a significantly ▶ Continued on page 3
David Heilpern opens Pandora’s box on Zionism ▶ p12
Make the most of your experience on the Rail Trail! ▶ p21
Get the kids off their screens these school holidays ▶ p24
Paul Bibby
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