IT’S THE MONKEYPOX ELECTION SPECIAL! The Byron Shire Echo • Volume 39 #11 • August 21, 2024 • www.echo.net.au
Discovering beautiful, functional art
All Council candidates announced! ▶ See page 8, 9 and 11 for as much local politics as you can stomach! Oh and page 6. And then there’s page 12, and…
Mullum to lose its local water source Paul Bibby
Last weekend’s Mud Trail saw 21 of the region’s potters open their studios to enthusiastic crowds. Pictured is Alex Draper of Muddy Clay Play, Byron Bay. See Paul Bibby’s story on page 2. Photo Jeff ‘Potted And Muddied Since 1986’ Dawson
Last Bluesfest announced – a closer look Hans Lovejoy
L
ast week, Bluesfest director Peter Noble OAM announced the end of an era for the much-loved annual event, held in Tyagarah. He said, ‘After more than 50 years in the music business, Bluesfest has been a labour of love, a celebration of music, community,
Getting flexed for circus fest ▶ p3
and the resilient spirit of our fans. ‘But after the 2025 festival, as much as it pains me to say this, it’s time to close this chapter. ‘This final edition is not just the end of an era; it’s a celebration of everything that Bluesfest has stood for over the past 35-plus years – music, community, and unforgettable experiences’. Among the first artist
Heilpern looks at the false assumption of endless growth ▶ p12
announcement for 2025 is Crowded House, Vance Joy, Ocean Alley, Tones, I, Gary Clark Jr, Rag’n’Bone Man, RY X, Allison Russell and Christone ‘Kingfish’ Ingram. Recognised globally, the locallyowned, independent festival has earned numerous accolades, making it the most-awarded music festival in the Australian entertainment industry.
Surf fest wraps up ▶ p17
While festivalgoers have enjoyed global headline acts and up-andcomers over those decades, the underlying local economic loss is significant. An economic impact report, which was commissioned by Bluesfest, showed in the year prior to Covid restrictions in 2020, Bluesfest 2019 generated 858 full-time ▶ Continued on page 5
We’ve put Mullum on the map ▶ p20
Health and healing Byron style ▶ p22
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Mullumbimby will get its water in the future from the Rous regional supply, rather than the local Lavertys Gap Weir it has been using for the past 85 years, under a decision made by Byron councillors last week. But with Council elections just weeks away, and no irreversible action on the issue planned for months, it is possible the decision could be overturned by the next group of councillors. The decision to shift from the Lavertys Gap Weir to the Rous supply was made at last week’s Council meeting following years of debate over the issue. Councillors were ultimately faced with four options: keep using Lavertys Gap with no additional water source, build an off-stream reservoir to supplement this source, permanently move to the Rous regional supply (which currently supplies the rest of the shire), or find a new ground water source to supplement Lavertys Gap. ▶ Continued on page 3
Soapbox, stars and a crossword ▶ p28