KEEPING MEDIOCRE POWER TO ACCOUNT SINCE 1986 The Byron Shire Echo • Volume 40 #04 • July 2, 2025 • www.echo.net.au
Winter nights with ceramics, soup & chai
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community-run clay collective – based behind the Mullumbimby Drill Hall – is holding a ceramics, soup and chai night on Friday, July 11 to raise money for new kilns.
Hans Lovejoy Pay parking permits for Byron Shire residents will now be reduced from $55 to $30, after councillors haggled over the final number between themselves at Monday’s meeting, the last before the winter break. Pensioners and the holders of Centrelink and student concession cards will be exempt from the permit fees. Also adopted were a raft of documents that outline funding and works programs – see page 3. Before the meeting began at 3pm, the Brunswick Heads Chamber of Commerce had assembled its members to again send a clear message – that pay parking was negatively impacting their town.
New kilns needed Gallery/events coordinator, Faith Avidor, told The Echo the 50 members are in need of new kilns, as the current old kilns are on their ‘last legs’. Faith says, ‘The maintenance and upkeep of our operation relies completely on our members, who volunteer their time’. ‘We have pottery wheels, work benches, storage space, two old kilns, and a gallery. We all make bowls and cups for sale, and on the night, we offer complimentary soup or chai to fill up any bought cups or bowls’. Faith adds, ‘Over the last three years, our not-for-profit organisation has run successful ceramics soup and chai nights’. The night runs from 5pm till 8pm and everyone is welcome.
800-strong petition Potters Mon Manabu, Jenny Muller, Faith Avidor, and Matthew Constable with his head down, hard at work. Photo Jeff ‘Clay Play Day’ Dawson
Large McAuleys Lane DA approved Hans Lovejoy
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controversial large exclusive 38-lot development application (DA), proposed by wealthy developers and with help from lead designer and now Deputy Mayor, Jack Dods, was approved by the Northern Regional Planning Panel (NRPP) last week. The NRPP determine large DAs, bypassing Council as the consent authority. Throughout the long process that led to the approval,
Resident pay parking reduced to $30pa
staff have advocated for the DA at 53 McAuleys Lane, Myocum, despite unanswered questions and bungled processes. Cr Dods is a relative of developer and co-proponent, John Callanan. And while Cr Dods did not vote in Council on issues around the proposal, Council staff never replied to The Echo as to whether he was declaring pecuniary or nonpecuniary interests correctly. Staff replied to a long list of unanswered questions by saying
Council’s Kathy’s tireless big budget work with her SGB adopted ▶ p3 community ▶ p6
‘staff have complied with all legislative requirements and procedures of the NRPP’.
Consultation lacking Cr Dods is also accused by neighbours of not consulting with them. The other developer proposing the DA is Tim Mundy. The NRPP panel that unanimously approved the DA, with conditions, on June 26, comprised Chair, Di Leeson, Stephen Gow, Michael Wright, Joe Vescio and Simon Richardson.
Ley tasked with rebuilding the Liberal brand ▶ p10
Richardson is a former Byron Shire mayor, and presided over Council’s Rural Land Use Strategy that enabled the land to be rezoned. He has mentored previous mayor Michael Lyon, and current Greens Mayor, Sarah Ndiaye. The panel said in their support of the DA, ‘While some panel members shared concerns about the number of proposed lots, the panel notes the determination of maximum lot yield, with which the application ▶ Continued on page 2
Women key to communities facing disasters ▶ p16
A petition with more than 800 signatures was presented to Cr David Warth, which highlighted a range of concerns. They included a ‘lack of equity across the Shire (with towns like Mullumbimby and Bangalow still unmetered); negative impacts on small businesses; and poor road and infrastructure conditions that make the new fees feel unjustified’. The issue has been a slow burner for some time, and heated up after Cr Jack Dods and Greens Mayor Sarah Ndiaye had the numbers and backed Council staff’s recommendation to bring the fee back at the May 8 meeting. During Monday’s debate, councillors at times bickered around the ▶ Continued on page 3
School holiday fun ideas ▶ p21
Walk, ride, and explore the rail trail ▶ p22
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