2025
SUSTAIINA
HINTS FOR
WE DON’T INHERIT THE EARTH, WE BORROW IT FROM OUR CHILDREN The Byron Shire Echo • Volume 39 #47 • April 30, 2025 • www.echo.net.au
Chaos as road upgrades roll out at The Saddle Road
LIVING A SUS
TAINA ABLE
LIFE
BILITY VOL 17, 2025
Sustainability liftout feature in this issue! www.echo
.net.au/su
stainabilit
y
Rain or shine, we remember
Mullumbimby Road works now planned till October Hans Lovejoy With up to six months of major road works about to begin for the busy road from Uncle Toms to Mullumbimby, it emerged at last week’s Council meeting that neighbouring The Saddle Road residents were not adequately informed of plans to temporarily divert around 5,000 vehicles per day past their homes. There are approximately 13,000 vehicles movements on Mullumbimby Road every day. Originally expected to take four months, Council’s website now says the work will start in May and finish in October. Additionally, they will now, ‘seal and maintain The Saddle Road to accommodate the increase in traffic’ for temporary outbound Mullum traffic. In emails provided to The Echo, residents were aghast at plans to widen the gravel on The Saddle Road ready for bitumen, along with the planned removal of large established trees that are close to the planned road expansion.
Developer advantage? Questions have also been raised as to where the roadwork funds have been sourced from, and whether the roadwork provides an financial advantage to developers that are proposing large greenfield developments in the area. Such developments require infrastructure contributions such as road upgrades. Greens Mayor Sarah Ndiaye told The Echo she is asking staff for a community information session, which will ‘serve to inform
A rare insight into emergency pod living ▶ p3
impacted residents about proposed infrastructure works and provide an opportunity for direct dialogue with Council staff’. Additionally, the adopted cycle-way plans for Mullumbimby Road are not part of the upgrades, and a funding application for a roundabout at Uncle Toms has been rejected. Cr Ndiaye told the chamber at last week’s meeting the roundabout is ‘critical for The Saddle Road [urban housing project] to go ahead… It’s a ‘real setback to the whole process.’ The Saddle Road resident Kirsty Nugent addressed Council at Thursday’s meeting, calling for a pause on works owing to a lack of consultation as there would be around 5,000 vehicles going past her home daily, whereas presently there are around 30. Council’s Infrastructure Director, Phil Holloway, told Ms Nugent via email that he agreed to temporarily pause the works. Yet he said, ‘low hanging or significantly encroaching vegetation’ required removal, ‘In order to facilitate the safe movement of heavy vehicles on The Saddle Road while the road is being used as an alternative access route as part of the Mullumbimby Road upgrade’. She replied, ‘trucks should never be directed down this road, which is not an arterial road and is still a rural, residential road’. ‘We asked for traffic calming on our road, not paving or widening’. Ms Nugent told Cr Ndiaye via email, ‘This road has been identified ▶ Continued on page 2
Who’s who in the political zoo? ▶ p4
After 27 years in the Australian Army, Tex Saunders wasn’t about to let a little Mullum rain ruin his parade or the flag raising. Tex worked as an electronics engineer, and reached the rank of Warrant Officer. He served in Afghanistan six times, as well as Iraq and East Timor. Tex now rides with the Veterans Australia Motorcycle Club. Photo Eve Jeffery The following is part of a speech by Byron High School captains Max Hochgrebe and Daniela BertiCarrab. They spoke at the Byron mØ ! ƆĕſưĶĈĕ şŕ żſĶō ǩǬǽ ǩǧǩǬȂ
A
s we gather here today on ANZAC Day, we honour the courage, sacrifice, and dedication of all the soldiers of Australia and New Zealand who have served and currently serve in our military. But although ANZAC Day brings to mind images like the battlefields of Gallipoli and trench warfare, we must not forget to also acknowledge the soldiers involved in peacekeeping operations around the world. This day is not just a remembrance of the past, but a
The Echo’s Senate guide ▶ p12
celebration of the enduring spirit of our servicemen and women who have committed themselves to the cause of creating and upholding global peace. Since their military involvement in the Vietnam War in 1970, Australia has deployed over 65,000 military personnel to over 50 peacekeeping missions around the world. These brave individuals have served in some of the world’s most challenging environments, in places where conflict and instability threatened the lives of millions. From the jungles of East Timor to the conflict zones in the Balkans, their role was not to fight, but to protect and rebuild, each mission a testament to our nation’s commitment to upholding international
How much more of the two-party nonsense? ▶ p15
Treats for your mum ▶ p37
peace and security. But peacekeeping is not only about the absence of war – it’s about the presence of stability, dignity and hope. Our service personnel engage with local communities – helping to rebuild infrastructure, support education, provide humanitarian aid, protect elections and train local forces. And in doing so, they have carried forward the ANZAC spirit. These acts, though less visible than combat, are powerful demonstrations of compassion and service. They show the world that the Australian spirit is not only defined by bravery in battle, but also by our willingness to lend a helping hand in times of need.
Fancy a show? We’ve got it covered in Seven ▶ p40
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