‘ C H A N G E B E F O R E Y O U H A V E TO ’ – J A C K W E LC H The Byron Shire Echo • Volume 39 #10 • August 14, 2024 • www.echo.net.au
A festival of writers and thinkers
Byron Writers Festival brought brilliant minds and stimulating conversations to the Bangalow Showground last weekend. Pictured clockwise from top left: Trent Dalton, William McInnes, Mindy Woods, David Marr, perhaps Saturday’s most stylish festivalgoer, and Chigozie Obioma. Photos Jeff ‘less words more pictures, thanks’ Dawson
‘Unique Byron culture’ to help local business
Byron Mayor AVO – election turmoil
Paul Bibby
Aslan Shand
What can we do to get the Byron economy back on track? With many local business owners and operators battling hard to stay in the black, Byron Council has released a draft business, industry and visitor strategy outlining what it can do to help. A key step in the process, according to the report, will be attracting more of the right kind of visitors to the area – those wanting to embrace our unique culture and values, and willing to spend a few dollars along the way. ‘For the visitor economy, it is
important to project key visitor experiences to the types of visitors that the destination seeks to embrace,’ the report’s authors state. ‘By doing so visitors that align with the community’s principles will be attracted to the region.’
But how do we do this? Council has proposed a range of measures, most of them focused on supporting and promoting events and activities that will attract people to town and keep them here long enough to share some of their hard-earned with the rest of us. This includes coordinating a
calendar of small, medium, and large events that span the entire year. At the small end of this scale will be art exhibitions and craft events held in the shire’s local halls, while the large end could feature more festivals that make use of our parks and showgrounds. Building on the cultural theme, the Council is also proposing the development of a local Aboriginal cultural centre. This part of a broader push to encourage greater levels of inclusive and accessible tourism. These measures will seek to bring visitors to the shire’s key ▶ Continued on page 9
Expectations surrounding the upcoming Byron Shire Council elections have been thrown in the air with the revelation that the police are seeking an Apprehended Violence Order (AVO) against Byron Shire Mayor, Michael Baden Lyon. Two domestic violence (DV) charges have been confirmed by the court: assault and stalking/ intimidation. The AVO and the two charges are set to be heard later this month. Following the charges being made public, both Cr Mark Swivel
and Dr Meredith Wray, who were running on the Byron Independents ticket with Lyon in the upcoming council elections, have pulled out of his ticket. Former councillor Jeannette Martin who was running fourth on the ticket has remained, telling The Echo that: ‘I support Michael 100 per cent and I will remain on the Byron Independents ticket’. Cr Lyon said on social media that; ‘I have also not made any decision on whether I will run again for mayor. A final decision on this will be made before Wednesday.’ Nominations to register to run nominations for mayor or ▶ Continued on page 3
BaySounds Stop the ‘Eco-friendly’ What is Richard Sporting Show Byron’s great inaugural songgambling ads! packaging myths Hil doing here? overachievers of local businesses writing winner ▶ p3 ▶ p12, 24 debunked ▶ p17 ▶ p19 the local kind ▶ p21 some love ▶ p25
£ŬĞůáăĈ ƱōƁů ŵōĽáů ŵƱŵżĈń ůōƁăĽƱ ŬōƫĈůħŅĞ fħńüħŅ ƫħżĤ ōĽáů żĈýĤŅōĽōĞƱ üĈĝōůĈ ŵƁńńĈů áŅă ŵáƪĈǤ ŵħŅýĈ njǔǓǒǧ
q¬Ý¬ä ËéÙ Ý©ËõÙËËÄ äË ¾ ÙÅ ÄËÙ Ëéä ËéÙ Å õ ©¬¤©¾û ££¬ ¬ Åä Å ËÝä ££ ä¬ô ©û Ù¬ ËÅƴ¤Ù¬ ÝûÝä ÄÝƣ Contact us to find out how we can help you POWER ON through blackouts. (02) 6689 1430
rpc.com.au
Book a call with one of our experienced sales staff (02) 6689 1430
rpc.com.au
Registered Electrical Contractor 198555C (NSW) 69172 69 691 6917 6 9 917 117 72 (Qld) (Qld) (Q ld d)) CEC d CE C EC Accredited EC Accr Acc A ccr c cr cred edit edi diiitte dit d ed d Installers Inst nsst ns nsta sta tta alller llle lle le ler errs