AFTER THE STORM COMES THE RAINBOW The Byron Shire Echo • Volume 39 #39 • March 5, 2025 • www.echo.net.au
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Residents across the Northern Rivers and in South East Queensland are being urged to prepare for Tropical Cyclone Alfred, which is expected to hit land later this week. The cyclone was a category one as of Monday morning, and is tracking slowly south-west, with predictions Brisbane and the Gold Coast may the hardest hit. By comparison, ex-Cyclone Debbie was a Category Four when it hit in 2017, causing extensive flooding across the region. By Tuesday, Alfred had intensified to a category two cyclone. SES said in a statement, ‘It is likely to maintain a category 2 intensity as it approaches the South East Queensland coast late on Thursday’. Catchments listed in an official flood watch include, but aren’t limited to, the Tweed, Rous, Wilsons, Richmond, Clarence, Orara and Brunswick Rivers and Marshalls Creek. Hazardous surf conditions have also prompted a warning, particularly for rock fishers.
After Council’s compliance team threatened to demolish the homes of a small Main Arm multiple occupancy (MO) community, councillors voted unanimously last Thursday to review their enforcement policy in the coming months. The policy expired last year and ‘has not been substantively updated since 2011’. Greens Cr Elia Hauge’s motion calls for a closed door workshop with staff to review the enforcement policy, including ‘appropriate community engagement’ compliance priorities, and STRA compliance.
ÉIJĕſĕ Ɛş īĕƐ ƆëŕĎćëīƆ Local state emergency services say Mullumbimby and Byron residents can collect self-service sandbags from the Mullumbimby SES Unit, located at 33 Coolamon Scenic Drive. More sandbags are to be available at the soccer field carpark on Shara Boulevard for residents of Ocean Shores, New Brighton and South Golden Beach.
Gulgan Village steams ahead ▶ p4
Hans Lovejoy
PƐȜƆ ë żëōōĶëƐĶưĕ żëſƐƷǿ The Lotus Palliative Care Fundraiser is on Saturday, March 15, at the Billinudgel Hotel. The annual event raises funds to support local individuals and families, ensuring those who need support access to specialist palliative care in the comfort of their own homes. It follows three consecutive sell-out events, and prizes for this year’s fundraiser include an e-bike and there will be a silent auction, featuring donations from generous local businesses. Visit tinyurl.com/4mj6mef2 for tickets. Pictured are Lotus Care principal, Lulu Shapiro, with DJs DANU and Leshi. Photo Jeff ‘DJ Paliative’ Dawson
®ȒƐƖſŕ şŕ Ɩǔş ƐſëǔĶĈ ōĶīIJƐƆ Paul Bibby The controversial decision to install traffic lights at Suffolk Park’s notorious Clifford Street intersection could be reversed within weeks, after Byron Shire councillors voted to put the option of a roundabout firmly back on the table. After months of lobbying from residents on both sides of the issue, councillors voted last week to find out whether the $2.33 million road safety grant they secured to install traffic lights at the intersection could be used to fund
The push for all-access beach immersion ▶ p7
a roundabout instead. In doing so, they indicated that it was their intent to seek such a variation and pursue the roundabout option.
IJĶſĕȜƆ ǕſƆƐ żĕſŔëŕĕŕƐ ƐſëǔĶĈ ōĶīIJƐƆ Should the funding authority, Transport for NSW, indicate that such a variation is possible, the decision to install the Shire’s first permanent traffic lights could be consigned to the dustbin of history at Council’s next meeting.
Who is this Mullum couple? Find out on ▶ p9
‘Given the level of frustration expressed by the community and our promise to do our best to listen, I’m opening up this opportunity for councillors to do that,’ Byron Mayor, Sarah Ndiaye, said in moving the key motion in relation to the issue at last week’s meeting. ‘We know, from the response, it [the traffic lights decision] hasn’t landed well. ‘We did all agree at the time [of the traffic light decision] that we would prefer a roundabout, and I guess this is an opportunity to see ▶ Continued on page 2
The arts in focus ▶ p22
!IJëŕīĕ şĪ ĎĶſĕĈƐĶşŕ It’s a welcome change of direction for residents – last week, Mayor Sarah Ndiaye (Greens) defended Council’s compliance team, and said those Main Arm MO residents will be provided ‘time to either bring properties into compliance or, as a last resort, find alternative accommodation’. In an email to Cr Ndiaye, Main Arm MO resident, Charles Boyle, outlined the history and impact that the current policy is having on residents. He said, ‘The Multiple Occupancy (MO) system was designed to provide low-cost housing, and the demand for this has never been higher – in fact Byron Shire is experiencing an acute and increasing housing crisis, especially for those on lower incomes. I suggest we urgently seek a way forward to ▶ Continued on page 2
Murwillumbah offers plenty to discover ▶ p26
Coast To Country We Have Your Property Needs Covered Whether you’re ready to sell or just curious about your property’s potential, we’re here to make your real estate journey seamless and rewarding.
Celebrating the region’s women of business ▶ p29
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