THE BYRON SHIRE Volume 31 #25 Wednesday, November 30, 2016 www.echo.net.au Phone 02 6684 1777 [email protected] YAC IS BACK [email protected] 23,200 copies every week pages 18 –19 CAB ALWAYS GET IT IN WRITING AUDIT Online in netdaily Ignoring What’s our local Farewell Mullum Ewingar pilot’s sentence overwhelming federal MP been Clifton Whyte Shop Local ‘manifestly inadequate’ www.echo.net.au/ewingar-pilots- evidence – p10 up to? – p4,5 – p13 – p16,17 sentence-manifestly-inadequate Get ya Bruns vitamins Levies unrealistic Council’s general manager says only rates can address infrastructure backlog Hans Lovejoy that it will pursue rate increases. ‘Only rate increases can produce Council general manager Ken the sustainable and reliable recur- Gainger has played down the pos- rent revenue desperately needed to sibility of introducing specifi c lev- repair our failing road system.’ ies to help pay for an infrastructure backlog, telling The Echo such pro- Property portfolio? posals ‘currently have no basis in But why isn’t Council managing a statutory authority.’ profi table property portfolio? Staff have claimed the Shire’s in- Under legislation, councils can frastructure such as roads will con- create a separate corporate entity as tinue to deteriorate unless a special an investment arm of council. rate variation (SRV) is implemented; While Mr Gainger confi rmed that they have suggested a cumulative in- local councils can create and manage crease over four years of 33.5 per cent a business unit or corporate entity as (deteriorate), 46.4 per cent (main- a vehicle to invest in and redevelop tain) or 60.2 per cent (improve). its property portfolio, he says there While public comment for the is limited property available. Such SRV is now closed, Cr Paul Spooner an approach is not justifi ed, he said. Kat and Daniel Gorskie earned their smoothies after entertaining the crowds at Saturday evening’s Street has suggested a tourism infrastruc- ‘Nonetheless, our fi nancial sus- Food Party in Banner Park, Brunswick Heads. More than 29 stalls – mostly cute little food vans – were fl at out ture levy ‘that is applied to any busi- tainability plan includes a ration- keeping the gourmet delights up to the huge crowds. Photo Jeff ‘I’ll Take The Orange Pill, Thanks’ Dawson ness deriving income from tourists.’ alisation of Council’s property hold- In the letters section (page 12), ings to determine which properties Cr Spooner argues ‘It will then be have investment potential and those up to each individual business to that are surplus to our needs. Th is Get active on Suff olk sportsfi eld: mayor determine whether they pass on this has resulted in some properties be- Owing to Council being unable to Media Productions, the mayor says the asking price.’ cost to their tourism customers. For ing sold and the proceeds of sale aff ord the market price of the Suf- that aft er a unanimous council vote Th e mayor also explained how pub- example, by applying an accommo- invested in infrastructure projects folk Park sportsfi eld, mayor Simon to negotiate a purchase of the land, lic pressure can infl uence a decision. dation surcharge.’ while properties with investment Richardson (Greens) is calling on ‘We since found that the valuation on But Mr Gainger says that such potential such as the former Byron the community to ‘stand up and the land showed it was about three Public pressure levies, whether a bed tax, tourism Library site in Byron Bay, the for- speak directly to the government.’ times as expensive as we thought.’ ‘Politicians quantify how power- levy or a levy on festival patrons mer South Byron Sewerage Treat- It’s the latest in the unfolding bat- ‘We just do not have that money, ful correspondence is – a petition is have no prospect – at this time – ment Plan site in Suff olk Park and tle for residents to retain the open and if the government holds the line 10 votes. A handwritten letter, 100 of becoming ‘recurrent and reliable a former materials dump site in space on Beech Drive; owners of the and sell it at the valued price, we votes and a phone call is 1,000 votes. revenue sources for Council.’ Bayshore Drive are earmarked for land, the NSW education depart- can’t aff ord it.’ He says the commu- Don’t underestimate the power of a He said, ‘Th e government has redevelopment. ment, say the land is surplus to their nity needs to let the state govern- phone call.’ previously categorically ruled ‘Our aim is to look at redevelop- needs and have pegged it for auction. ment know that the recent protest out a bed tax option. Council, in ment options that have the potential Q Th e video is online at https:// And time is running out for resi- at the sportsfi eld ‘is just the tip of its submission to be declared as to return a recurrent revenue source app.frame.io/f/rbi4nfG3. dents to make their case clear, the the iceberg if they don’t negotiate Fit for the Future and thus avoid to the council and create a situation mayor says. in good faith with the community.’ Q Education minister Adrian Pic- potential amalgamation, has where Council is less reliant on rate In a video produced by Bakery ‘Every bit of pressure will lower coli’s phone number is 02 8574 5300. promised the state government continued on page 3 The Truth About The REAL Cost of Solar Batteries Take Back Your Power! Solar batteries not only have to look pretty, they have to save you money. 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(NRCF). NRCF chair, John Calla- Just this year, the NRCF nan said, ‘A lot of people say has given away over $130,000 we live in paradise here… in grants to 22 diff erent com- but the reality is that the munity organisations – the Laim Reynolds, bee project instigator Leeana Jenkins, GM northern rivers is statistically total amount donated by the Nick Thom, and Alex Vanhonk from Katia with George Alpen above average in many areas NRCF over the last 12 years is from NRCF. Photo Jeff Dawson of disadvantage.’ now over $1 million. The foundation is set to Auspiced by the Byron last Thursday and accepted both honey production and continue its mission as it only Bay Herb Nursery, the Katia by manager Nick Th om and the pollination of food crops, gives away profits from in- Project Inc plans are to help staff member Leeanna Jen- especially nut trees. vestments each year. with the manufacture of bee- kins, who thought up the Other local organisations Its ‘nest egg’, already over hive boxes and the farming of project. Th e beehives will be to benefit from last week’s $1 million, is growing, largely native bees. sold or leased to community NRCF grants include Byron thanks to bequests. Th e grant was handed over members and those in the Youth Service (a program for Q For more visit nrcf.org.au at a ceremony in Tweed Heads horticultural industry, for ‘at risk’ girls at Mullumbimby and www.byronherbs.com.au. POP-UP SHOP Week two: Byron Bay schoolies update DESIGNER PRODUCTS: cushions, throws, robes, bedding, baskets, accessories and more... With Byron Bay schoolie cel- ordinator Nicqui Yazdi re- barely metres apart.’ Saturday 3rd Newrybar Hall, Locals create biff o & Sunday 4th December Newrybar ebrations now well underway, ported that the fi rst big night She said young locals 9am - 3pm (Opposite Harvest & Driftlab) organiser of the safety response saw around 3,500 to 4,000 Remarkably it was local ‘cruising for a bruising’ were HUB located on Main Beach schoolies dancing around the kids who have caused the from Ballina, Alstonville, says that for the most part, the HUB and hanging in the park most trouble, Ms Yazdi said. Ocean Shores, Lennox, Lis- For more information: [email protected] or 0403 207 399 young visitors are having fun and on the beach.