THANK YOU FOR CONTACTING THE ABYSS, YOUR SCREAM IS VERY IMPORTANT TO US
The Byron Shire Echo • Volume 39 #25 • November 27, 2024 • www.echo.net.au
Mullumbimby şëĎ ƖżīſëĎĕ żōëŕƆ ƖŕưĕĶōĕĎ Traffic improvements are proposed for two sections of Mullumbimby Road near Uncle Tom’s, which, if adopted by the Local Traffic Committee (LTC) and then councillors, would see road widening, a turning lane at McAuleys Lane, drainage and road resurfacing. Yet no mention is made of a nearby rezoning for a large residential subdivision at 53 Mcauleys Lane, Myocum, which was approved by councillors last year. That DA included a voluntary planning agreement (VPA) whereby the developer would pay for upgrades to the McAuleys Lane intersection. According to the LTC report, the project is in two sections. One is aimed at improving the McAuleys Lane turn off, and the other is road ▶ Continued on page 3
Magazine with this issue!
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Representing ƖŕĎŇëōƖŕī
Wahlubal Elder, Uncle Lewis Walker, conducted a smoking ceremony at Coorabell Hall on Saturday, before everyone moved Into the hall to hear Dr Shauna Bostock discuss her award-winning book, Reaching Through Time. As a historian, Dr Bostock explores history and culture through her family’s stories. She writes, ‘I am a proud Aboriginal woman, who has always wanted to make a stronger connection to my cultural heritage. I experienced an inner yearning to find out about my ancestors, and what they experienced in life. This is the story of my journey.’ Photo Jeff ‘Smoking On His Journey Since 1986’ Dawson
Ʒſşŕ ƐşżƆ Īşſ ōĕëƆƐȒëǔşſĎëćōĕ ſĕŕƐëōƆ Paul Bibby Well, it’s official: the area in and around Byron Bay is one of the least-affordable locations in the entire country if you’re a renter. The 10th annual national rental affordability index was released on November 22, and it lists the 2481 postcode as ‘Extremely Unaffordable’, one of just a handful of locations across Australia to receive this dubious designation. This postcode, which also covers Ewingsdale, Suffolk Park, Broken Head and Myocum, is part of small
group of ‘red zones’ that includes Noosa, Jindabyne, and Perth’s exclusive City Beach postcode.
60 pc of income in rent A listing in the ‘Extremely Unaffordable’ category means that the average rental household has to hand over at least 60 per cent of its income to a landlord each week. This is double the proportion generally associated with housing stress, and is likely to affect the capacity of households to pay for food, utilities, health services and education.
The Shire’s other postcodes were not far behind Byron Bay in the unaffordability stakes, with 2482, 2483 and 2479 all listed as ‘Severely Unaffordable’, meaning that renting households in these areas spent at least 50 per cent of their income on rent. It is part of a bleak picture for regional NSW which hit record lows for affordability according to the index. ‘The regions used to be seen as an affordable alternative for Sydneysiders to escape to when city rents became unaffordable,’ the CEO
of Shelter NSW John Engeler said. ‘But this is not the case, especially for regional residents on local wages. This is not sustainable and will only get worse as these regional populations grow.’ Shelter NSW is calling on the state government to provide more social housing – both public and community housing for low-income people – and to restore the social housing safety net to 5 per cent of all housing stock by 2027, working towards a goal of 10 per cent of all housing by 2040. ▶ Continued on page 3
Vale Sea Shepherd Who is Frankie, Is that the ominous stalwart, Adam God of Hair? jingling of the festive Shostak ▶ p4 ▶ p8 season I hear? ▶ p23
Christmas
HAM RAFFLES
Wed 4 & Tues 17 DEC 40 x XMAS HAMS Sat 14 December ! each night! 60 XMAS HAMS D R AW N 6 . 3 0 p m
Byron’s peak philanthropy org celebrates 20 yrs
Includes 2 FREE drinks
I O } OO [ I ũ CCuurr rren ent en nt BB BBSC SC mem mbbeers col o leectt yyoour ur vou ouch chhers errs wortth $5 $50! 0! 0!
Membershipp Options p 1 year = $5 / 3 years = $10
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hilanthropic organisation, the Northern Rivers Community Foundation (NRCF) celebrated two decades of community-driven impact last week, which includes $10 million in donations across more than 645 projects since its inception. Organisers say the event at Elements at Byron brought together over 220 donors, grant recipients, and community leaders ‘to celebrate the power of community giving, a defining trait of our region’s resilience through floods, fires, and the pandemic, and to unveil this year’s Community Grants recipients’. ‘This anniversary celebrates the profound impact of community giving,’ said NRCF CEO, Sam Henderson. ‘From humble beginnings, we’ve witnessed the extraordinary capacity of our region to come together and create meaningful change. Tonight is about honouring our journey and those making a difference on the ground.’
Grant recipients The highlight of the evening was the announcement of the 2024/25 Community Grants Program recipients. Organisers say, ‘From ecocultural fire training and community emergency hubs, to supporting families with neurodivergent children to prepare for natural disasters, empowering changemakers, and preserving cultural heritage, these initiatives reflect our commitment to creating positive, lasting change’. ▶ Continued on page 3
Make your abode Creative, stylish, into a little piece amusing, find it all of paradise ▶ p30 in Byron’s A&I ▶ p32
XmasEve
SEAFOOD
RAFFLE
25 x $70 trays D R AW N 6 . 3 0 P M
Jonson Street, Byron Bay • 02 6685 6878 • www.byronbayservicesclub.com.au