The Byron Shire Echo – Issue 39.05 – July 10, 2024 by Echo Publications

NAIDOC WEEK 2024 – KEEP THE FIRE BURNING! The Byron Shire Echo • Volume 39 #05 • July 10, 2024 • www.echo.net.au

Stop-work Bundjalung art on show for Wallum

ĕƆĶĎĕŕƐƆ ĪëĈĕ ćĕĶŕī ĈƖƐ ĪſşŔ Mullum’s water

eveloper Clarence Property (CP) have stopped work at their urban Wallum development in a sensitive ecological area of Brunswick Heads, after a Federal Court emergency interlocutory injunction was issued last week. Save Wallum claim works to undertake approved urban development will destroy vital areas of habitat for federally-listed threatened species, the wallum sedge frog, and the critically endangered Mitchell’s rainforest snail. According to court documents, Justice Raper allowed respondents CP to ‘install hollow or nest boxes in accordance with the hollow and nest box management plan’ at the contentious Bayside property. Clarence Property CEO Simon Kennedy told The Echo, ‘We are of the view that the claims of the activists are without merit, and we were pleased the court orders support our right to continue with some of the ecological works we’ve got planned for the coming weeks’. ‘We were disappointed that the matter wasn’t thrown out completely, and would like to be able to do more at the site than we’re able to, however this is a legal matter now, and we respect the court’s position’. Greens MP and spokesperson for planning and the environment, Sue Higginson, said, ‘So far, both the state and federal governments have refused to use their lawful power to intervene in the proposed destruction of nationally and statelisted threatened species and their habitat at this site. It is down to the tenacity and determination of the community that the legality of this development is being challenged.’

Paddle-out for innovative shaper, Geoff McCoy ▶ p5

Hans Lovejoy Dozens of Mullumbimby residents located close to the town’s local water source at Lavertys Gap Weir in Wilsons Creek are uniting against a recommendation by Byron Shire Council staff to disconnect the town’s local water supply. Under plans presented recently, options were tabled for the future water supply for the town. Staff support a consultant’s view to instead use bulk water supplier, Rous, which sources its water mainly from Rocky Creek Dam near Lismore. Residents approached The Echo to say they discovered Council’s plan was to remove their access to the potable water supply, without any notification or proper consultation.

From left: Wayne King, Sonya Breckinridge, co-curator, and Janelle Duncan, who are three of the 13 Bundjalung artists who have contributed to the Longstanding art exhibition. Coinciding with NAIDOC celebrations, Longstanding will be at the Lone Goat Gallery, located at the Byron Library until August 17. The other artists on exhibition are Bindimu, Kylie Caldwell, Kristina Davis, Tracey Duroux, Kim Healey, Arminel Nagas, Jasmin Stanford, Tim Stanford, Shaun Tucker and Jai Walker. For more info visit www.lonegoatgallery.com. Photo Jeff ‘Goats On Loan’ Dawson

Website launched In response, they have launched www.wilsonswaterrights.com.au in an effort to garner public support. More than 30 affected residents say their properties are at the bottom of Wilsons Creek and some areas of Mullumbimby Creek, and they were only told they will likely be cut off from town water after questioning Council staff about the Mullumbimby Water Supply Strategy. Spokesperson for the Wilsons Water Rights Action Group (WWR) Mel Macpherson said she was shocked to find out from a neighbour about Council’s plans to remove their connection to town water without any direct written or ▶ Continued on page 3

Ǥǟ ĲşƖƆĕȒſëĶƆĕƆ ëŕĎ ſĕƐſşǕƐƆ ëŕŕşƖŕĈĕĎ Ȟ Seventy-two homeowners in the Ballina electorate will receive government funding to raise and retrofit their flood-affected homes, says local NSW Greens MP, Tamara Smith. Despite the announcement giving ‘some clarity to our floodaffected communities’, Ms Smith says the agency tasked with floodrecovery, the NSW Reconstruction Authority (RA), is yet to name those who will benefit from the Resilient Homes program. Additionally, there were no stats provided on how many Byron Shire

homeowners within the Ballina electorate will benefit. Ms Smith said, ‘So far, only a dozen or so [local] families have been assisted through the Resilient Homes program, and we have had no detail in terms of how many house-raises and retrofits we will see under the $100 million of tranche 2.’ ‘After 28 months of waiting this is going to mean that 72 families and households will be better prepared for the next flood and is life changing for those members of our community.

Remembering those who served, and fell in Iraq and Afghanistan ▶ p6

NAIDOC Week: Blak, Loud & Proud ▶ p14

‘This is a testament to the advocacy and determination of our community in not allowing those in Macquarie Street to forget us and I have backed them in all the way.

Hundreds promised ‘Of course we will not stop lobbying for more, as we were promised that hundreds more families would be assisted to raise their homes out of flood levels or better fit out their homes in the rebuild so that they are more resilient to future flooding. ▶ Continued on page 2

School holidays roll on ▶ p20

The Scoop ▶ p23

Leihani wins at Skullcandy Oz Grom comp ▶ p39

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