THE BYRON SHIRE Volume 25 #48 Tuesday, May 10, 2011 Mullumbimby 02 6684 1777 Byron Bay 02 6685 5222 Fax 02 6684 1719 [email protected] [email protected] Billycart Derby www.echo.net.au CAB page 16-17 23,000 copies every week AUDIT REALITY PRETTIER THAN THESE CONTENTS Wategos turns on for Marine scientist Malibu Classic slams Ecofi shers Ken Thurlow accused of ‘misrepresenting facts’ on marine park science Ray Moynihan entists had only spent four half-hour sessions examining habitats. In fact An internationally published marine the report makes clear the scientists scientist has strongly attacked Ken undertook almost forty half-hour ex- Th urlow, the Byron-based chief exec- aminations, not four. utive of the group Ecofi shers which is Moreover the report involved two campaigning to wind back no-fi shing weeks of fi eld work and took three zones in marine parks. months to complete. Last week Mr Thurlow claimed Similarly Mr Thurlow told the the science behind the state’s marine parliamentary inquiry the report parks was ‘rubbery’ and also claimed contained ‘no comparative data’, yet that a scientifi c report on the Cape the report clearly includes extensive Byron park had been described by comparisons. ‘He’s completely mis- ‘scientifi c experts’ as an ‘insult to sci- represented the facts and integrity’ You couldn’t have written a script for better conditions for the 31st annual Byron Bay Malibu Classic, held at Wategos ence and the local community’. of the work, says the report’s author beach over the weekend. The event is one of the only remaining single-fi n competitions, and draws competitors However, the author of that report, Stephen Smith, based at the National from all over Australia. Apart from the open categories, competitors hung fi ve and ten in the over 30, 40, 50, 55, 60 associate professor Stephen Smith Marine Science Centre, part of South- and 65s, as well as juniors. Pictured is John Keevers, and as a descendant of the Watego family, used his home turf from Southern Cross University, ern Cross University. advantage to take third place in the Big Boy event. See more Malibu action on the sport pages. Photo Tree Faerie. hit back, telling Th e Echo that in his Another SCU marine scientist, opinion Mr Th urlow either doesn’t and former member of the advisory understand the science, or is blatantly group to the Cape Byron marine park, Triathlon win for Lennox’s Lampe misrepresenting it. Amanda Reichelt-Brushett, said Ste- The war of words comes as the phen Smith’s work has ‘helped contrib- Story & photo Eve Jeff ery new coalition government is about ute to the increasing understanding of to launch a review of marine park the biodiversity’ of this unique area. Lennox Head triathlete Joey Lampe science, an initiative which has been While noting that all scientific put his stamp all over the event when strongly pushed by the recreational studies have limitations, she de- he won every leg of the Byron Bay Tri- fi shers. scribed Ken Th urlow’s attempts to athlon held on Saturday in conditions Asked whether Ecofi shers were in undermine the report on the marine writers wax lyrical about. fact the driving force behind the gov- park as ‘misinformed.’ Aft er an excellent swim Joey, 22, ernment’s review, the Minister for Controversy over the size and plac- exited the water well ahead of rival Primary Industries Katrina Hodg- ing of the sanctuary zones which pro- Aaron Royle in the hope of getting a kinson told Th e Echo, ‘they may well hibit fi shing is at least a decade old, good head start on the cycle specialist. have been’. but has recently resurfaced as con- Lampe kept up the pace and won As to whether the review would ul- servation and fi shing groups jockey the ride then started the running timately reduce the size of no-fi shing to infl uence the terms of reference course with a clear lead, though he zones, as predicted by Mr Th urlow, for the imminent scientifi c audit and says he wasn’t immediately confi dent. the Minister said, ‘we’ll have to wait the membership of the panel which ‘Aaron is fast on the bike so I wanted and see. I’m not going to pre-empt the will run it. to get well ahead of him,’ said Lampe scientifi c audit.’ Th e Echo endeavoured several times aft er the race. During a parliamentary inquiry on to ask Mr Th urlow a series of questions ‘When I got off the bike I was still over fi ve minutes later. front runner on the bike, only to be recreational fi shing last year, Ken Th ur- about his comments on marine park a bit scared he might catch up. Th e Th is win was the third try at this overtaken again in the run. low forcefully attacked the credibility of science, and seek responses to Stephen pressure was still on. I pretty much for Lampe, but a back-to-back win The winner for the women was Stephen Smith’s scientifi c report on the Smith’s criticisms. However Mr Th ur- knew I had it when I was seven and was the hope of Lisa Marangon from world 15th ranked Felicity Abram from plants and animals of the rocky shores low – who indicated he was busy at a half kilometres into the run’. Sydney who returned to the Bay to the Gold Coast, with a time of one around Byron. state parliament house in Sydney last Lampe won the event easily in defend her title. Aft er a good swim, hour, 57 minutes and nine seconds. Mr Th urlow repeatedly told a par- week – was unavailable to answerTh e 1.45.25 ahead of Royle who came in Lisa made up ground and beat the Q More results in the sport pages liamentary inquiry hearing that sci- Echo’s questions. Gyuto Monks of Tibet - The Infi nite Present Tour Sand mandala, meditation, public talks, tantric arts, chanting, culture for kids 10.30am – 4.00pm daily Kalachakra Stupa Harmonic Chanting Saturday 28 May 7.30pm $25 or $30 at door All proceeds to World Peace Stupa Project For full program of events and bookings visit www.crystalcastle.com.au CRYSTAL CASTLE 14-29 May 2011 Enrich your spirit 81 Monet Drive Mullumbimby | 20 mins from Byron Bay | 02 6684 3111 | www.crystalcastle.com.au <echowebsection=Local News> Local News OSTEOPATH Reg#1074713 Open day not just for the kids Dr Bardia Asaadi D.O. Story & photo Eve Jeff ery 22 Years Clinical Experience s-ASSAGE MANIPULATION Fire stations in the Shire fl ung ADJUSTMENTS wide their doors on Saturday to s!RTHRITIC SPORTSWORKINJURIES give visitors a personal glimpse s-USCLE JOINTNERVE into Australia’s largest fi re and RELATEDAILMENTS rescue service. s-EDICAREPROVIDERFORALL Fire and Rescue NSW (FRN- CLAIMSREBATES SW) held its annual open day Ph: 6684 6754 marking the culmination of Fire Prevention Week. Among the attractions for this year’s open day were fi re safety demonstrations, fi re sta- tion tours and the chance to inspect fi refi ghting equipment Dr Rod Whitehead used by our fi refi ghters when ^Đ,ŽŶ;ĂŶĂĚĂͿ͕^Đ;Y>Ϳ responding to fi res and other ͻNaturopathically Approved Removal of Amalgam emergencies. ͻŽƐŵĞƟĐ^ŽůƵƟŽŶƐLJŽƵĐĂŶƚƌƵƐƚ Across the Shire, fi ries were ͻDŽĚĞƌŶ͕ƌĞůĂdžĞĚ͕ďŝŽĐŽŵƉĂƟďůĞĚĞŶƟƐƚƌLJ sizzling sausages, squirting ͻ͚KŶƚŚĞƐƉŽƚ͛ďƵůŬďŝůůŝŶŐĨŽƌEPCƉĂƟĞŶƚƐ their hoses, and ringing their ͻ͚KŶƚŚĞĚĂLJ͛ĞŵĞƌŐĞŶĐLJĂƉƉŽŝŶƚŵĞŶƚƐ bells for the hundreds of curi- Brunswick Heads Fire Station Captain Graeme Wakely looks on as Engine Keeper Peter McNulty, ous guests, and children were Dr Brian TraceyǁŽƌŬŝŶŐ&ƌŝĚĂLJƐ Deputy Captain David Alexander and fi refi ghter friend Thomas get ready to rescue crewman treated to showbags and a fi ries ‘Steve Vulcan’ from yet another fi re drill. ϳͬϭϰDŝĚĚůĞƚŽŶ^ƚƌĞĞƚ͕LJƌŽŶĂLJͻ02 6680 7774 eye view from the truck during the event. to operate the fi re hose and dressed a 75 kilo volunteer who questions about fi re safety in Brunswick Heads Deputy see the inside of the truck,’ in the course of rescue training the home. Captain David Alexander said said David. acts as mister ‘average’ for the ‘Th is is a chance for people that the station was expecting Crewman Steve Vulcan was benefi t of trainees. to come along and have a look about 250 visitors during the also on hand to have his photo Mr Alexander said that at what their taxes are funding, day and there was a lot to keep taken with visitors. the day was a good chance to get some safety information them busy. Mr Vulcan, named aft er the explore what happens inside and everyone likes to sit in the ‘Th e kids have that chance Roman god of fi re, is when un- the station house and to ask truck, not only the kids.’ Planting a thought for Mum by the riverside Story & photo Eve Jeff ery and are salt resistant. Th is will help secure the riverbank.’ Mother Earth got a lovely prezzy ‘It has been a really success- last Sunday when over 75 vol- ful morning, but sadly it is the unteers paid a visit to Mullum- only site outside of Sydney to THE NEW INTEL I5 & I7 bimby riverbank to plant trees. embrace to idea,’ she said. ‘We ‘Trees for Mum’ began nine have had kids and their mums QUAD CORE IMACS years ago as a way for two planting trees and many people mums to remember on Moth- who have lost their mum. @ ers Day their own mums who ‘This is a symbolic gift to Lightforce Computers had died from cancer.