Byron Writers Festival
‘25
Passion & Pur pose
8—10 August
Bangalow Sho wground
byronwriters festival.com
COMPLICIT IN ORCHESTRATING LOCAL GATHERINGS SINCE 1986 The Byron Shire Echo • Volume 40 #01 • June 11, 2025 • www.echo.net.au
Writers Festival program with this issue!
Land acquisition now Writers fest locked and loaded part of botched DA BWF_ProgramDesi gn_270x195_2025_ 05.indd
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Councillors vote this week on proposal that will impact 13,000 daily vehicle movements Hans Lovejoy
Authors Kayte Nunn (The Palazzo) and Denise Alison (Humans of Lismore), Bundjalung woman and Byron Shire councillor, Delta Kay, with Artistic Director, Jessica Alice. Photo Jeff Dawson
T
he 2025 Byron Writers Festival program has been revealed! More than 160 heavyweights in the Australian and international literary scene will explore the important themes shaping our world at the scenic Bangalow Showground from August 8 to 10. With the theme ‘Passion and Purpose’, the festival will host more than 160 writers with thoughtprovoking panels, in-depth discussions, debate and intimate conversations. Additionally, the festival will feature an array of workshops, a dedicated children’s program and special feature events.
Bold conversations Festival organisers say, ‘From celebrated novelists, memoirists, poets and essayists to leading political commentators, academics and activists, the program promises
John Bennett receives an OAM ▶ p5
A sample of who is on the Writers Fest bill: Esther Freud, John Vaillant, Helen Garner, Michelle de Kretser, Don Watson, Gail Jones, Tony Armstrong, Jackie Huggins, Barry Jones, Andrew Denton, Hannah Kent, Michael Robotham, Robert Dessaix, Ziggy Ramo, Hannah Ferguson, Richard Denniss, Peter Greste, Anita Heiss, Clare Wright, Thomas Mayo, Judith Brett, Shankari Chandran, Simon Holmes à Court, Richard Scolyer, Markus Zusak, Tom Keneally, Zoë Foster Blake and more… ưĶƆĶƐȞƱƱƱȂćƷſşŕƱſĶƐĕſƆĪĕƆƐĶưëōȂĈşŔ Īşſ ĪƖōō ōĶƆƐȂ bold and wide-ranging conversations spanning social justice, politics, the environment, crime, mortality and human connection’. Artistic Director, Jessica Alice, says of the 2025 theme, ‘Passion and Purpose’: ‘This year’s festival is an exuberant celebration of the art of reading, writing, and living with purpose featuring renowned writers and the most impressive new voices. We are honoured to present these brilliant authors and thinkers who will ignite your curiosity and
Gill Lomath’s quest for improved church services ▶ p7
passion for a life well lived, and big ideas for a better world.’
Foodie/kids program Foodie favourites Virginia Trioli, Nadine Ingram, and Ben Shewry will share their unique insights into culture, creativity, and cuisine, while at the Sunday Kids Program, beloved children’s authors including Peter Helliar, Zanni Louise and Tony Armstong will offer laughter, imagination, and heartwarming tales for young readers.
Can intelligence ever be artificial? ▶ p10
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A large exclusive 39-large-lot greenfield development between Uncle Toms and Mullumbimby will be voted upon by councillors on Thursday, which has been the subject of countless stuff-ups by the applicant and Council planning staff. A myriad of unanswered questions also surround the project, which, if approved, will impact the busy Mullumbimby Road and McAuleys Lane intersection. Senior Council planning staff are pushing for councillors to adopt the planning agreement with the developers, yet it has been challenged by neighbours as being non-compliant under NSW guidelines and Council policy. Deputy mayor, Jack Dods, told The Echo he will recuse himself from voting owing to a pecuniary interest as a consultant to the proposal. Previously, he declared a nonpecuniary interest as councillor when issues around development application (DA) 10.2023.454.1 were discussed in Council. Along with being a lead designer to the developers prior to be elected, Cr Dods was the son of the partner of developer John Callanan, who is one of the applicants. The other is developer Tim Mundy. Cr Dods claims the difference now is that the DA is being voted upon, so he will declare his interest as pecuniary, rather than non-pecuniary. While he maintains this is proper process, Council staff are yet to reply
to The Echo as to whether he met code of conduct requirements. Cr Dods is refusing to ask staff to clarify. He said, ‘I will not ask staff to respond to your questions on this matter, as doing so would be entirely inappropriate given my clear commitment to remain uninvolved with this project in my role as a councillor’. Additionally, it is unclear if Cr Dods met requirements given the proposal was incorrectly assessed initially – it was submitted without a community consultation report and neighbours say his promises of consultation were not met. Council staff have also not replied to that question. A key element to Thursday’s decision by councillors is whether to adopt the staff recommendation to compulsorily acquire a sliver of land on the corner of Mullumbimby Road and McAuleys Lane.
No consultation Yet that proposal comes without consultation with the landholders, which appears to contravene policy. The landholders told The Echo, ‘We are astounded that we were not given a heads-up that the fate of the property will be voted on this Thursday. There’s been zero contact from Council staff and the developers around this. This could happen to any landowner and it concerns us greatly’. The landholders previously told The Echo that they were ▶ Continued on page 2
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