THE BYRON SHIRE Volume 28 #32 Tuesday, January 21, 2014 Phone 02 6684 1777 Fax 02 6684 1719 23rd INTERNATIONAL [email protected] SHORT-FILM [email protected] FESTIVAL www.echo.net.au CAB Pages 14 & 15 23,200 copies every week AUDIT CALAMITOUS CRIMINALS COMMONLY WEAR TIES, NOT TATTOOS Inside Christopher still Australia Day Back to School Living is better What climate Byron Shire this struggles with his celebrations in Byron style than the alternative change? Council Notices week schooling – p10 – p16–17 – p18–20 – p22–23 – p25 Page 43 The summit is just a halfway point… What’s it cost to run for Council? Where the money came from, where it went Hans Lovejoy As for expenditures, fundraising cost them $500 and advertising was ‘Money has never made man happy, spread across the two weekly pa- nor will it,’ said Benjamin Franklin, pers. The Echo ads cost them $2,757 ‘there is nothing in its nature to pro- while Byron News was just under duce happiness. Th e more of it one $600. $900 was spent with Bay FM has, the more one wants.’ and signage totalled $559. Other But money is needed to win elec- costs included $600 on a Byron Bay tions; it buys you ink on paper and pop-up shop as campaign HQ. airwaves on radio and TV. Th e Byron Greens membership And while incomparable in size is around 100–120, Mr Smith added, and scale to state and federal election and he agreed that there would be budgets, local government candidate more transparency if registered po- donation and expenditure disclo- litical parties disclosed reports lo- sures reveal the same transparency cally rather than sending them to With a fi rm grip on reality, climber Haley Reynolds – and photographer – try out the brand new Circus Arts issues: donors can remain anony- state branch headquarters. Mayor indoor climbing wall at the Byron industrial estate. Photo Jeff ‘Not A Social Climber’ Dawson mous by contributing under $1,000 Simon Richardson, along with Crs while fundraising event donations Duncan Dey and Rose Wanchap, are also anonymous. were all elected on the Greens ticket. As the political donation disclo- Bolger’s North Coast Holiday sures are now public, what does it Cr Sol Ibrahim cost to run as a party in a local gov- Cr Ibrahim’s Vision In Action ernment election? team reported no donations of any Parks debacle continues kind except his own, which to- Greens talled $3,867. But the campaign cost Brunswick Heads residents ex- will be closed off or restricted. business and a percieved confl ict of As a state-registered political $11,797, and like Crs Cameron and pressed their anger, disappoint- The plan involves erecting a interest, because his holdiay parks party, Th e Byron Greens’ disclosure Spooner, he managed to secure only ment, confusion and frustration last 1.8-metre-high steel mesh fence all also hire boats. is not recorded alongside other par- himself a seat in Council. Wednesday at the state-appointed around the boundary of that park, Adding to the chorus of residents ties. So unless you ask, there’s no When asked about the donations, manager who is behind contro- shutting out locals altogether. critical of Mr Bolger’s management way of knowing what was donated Cr Ibrahim said, ‘I received about versial plans to upgrade the town’s Other complaints by the public is Byron councillor Di Woods. or spent. But Byron Greens treas- two dozen donations. All were be- three public caravan parks and four ranged from unanswered emails and She told The Echo, ‘I believe it urer Wayne Smith seemed happy low the reportable threshold from Crown coastal reserves. phone call enquiries to Mr Bolger was the most lacklustre attempt at enough to tell The Echo that $2,577 local residents who were of course Several local mums were shocked and a holiday park manager’s poor community consultation I have wit- was donated to the party by eight not developers, or involved in gam- to learn from NSW Crown Holi- attitude toward locals. nessed, and was not transparent at local people, all under the $1,000 ing or liquor, as per AEC rules. day Parks Trust (NCHPT) manager It comes as Mr Bolger has been ap- all.’ amount. And when asked who were Cr Jim Bolger that under the plans for pointed media contact for his corpo- ‘I think that it should have been ‘$2,000 was raised from raffl es,’ Ibrahim’s main backers, he replied, Th e Terrace Holiday Park, public ration while also refusing to answer held in the community centre, with a he said. ‘Th e Byron Greens mem- ‘It is a bit mischievous to imply that access along the Simpsons Creek questions on the planned eviction of presentation to the community and bers contributed $7,000,’ he added, I or other councillor had “major foreshore, or even through the park, the Brunswick Buccaneer boat hire continued on page 2 ‘and the total came to $12,018.10.’ continued on page 2 Local News North Coast news daily: netdaily.net.au Career Guidance Bruns parks debacle heats up Vocational Psychologist with over continued from page 1 sion will be the same as the 25 years experience offering expert previous: we highly value our assessment and counselling. followed by questions and answers with everyone being low-key simple pleasures vil- Suitable for: lage lifestyle. • students able to hear the explanation. • school-leavers ‘Someone mentioned to me ‘We have always been a • adults returning to work or study that Jim was heard to give two holiday town and we want to • career/work transition diff erent answers to the same protect it by attracting visitors question by two individuals. whose values are aligned with Contact Peter Curry at Pathwise Careers Th is makes it hard for people our community values. pathwisecareers.com.au P 6680 1474 M 0407 811 484 to really understand what is ‘We want our holiday truth and what is fi ction.’ parks to align with this vi- However, Cr Woods says sion, instead of becoming there is room for negotiation. clones of the holiday parks ‘It is always the case that when Jim Bolger, NSW Crown Holiday Parks Trust manager, faced an up and down the coast. a plan is being put forward that angry public on Wednesday over a range of issues, including ‘We are not so naive as to the proponent usually asks for his plans to shut public access to locals. Photo Jeff Dawson think that all of our sugges- “an arm and a leg,” and then tions will be adopted; it just negotiations take place. If we Parks Plans of Management, munity Economic Transition won’t be humanly possible to had honest and transparent and proposed several sugges- Plan 2011-2016”, to guide us satisfy everyone’s wishes. community consultation, with tions and solutions for the in our assessment of what is ‘However, we will be Council perhaps as a mediator, various issues they had with proposed this time around. strongly encouraging the fi - then surely an agreed position those plans. ‘Over the next month we nal plans of management to could be achieved.’ ‘The chamber’s mission will be assessing the cur- refl ect the values and needs of is, “To foster a dynamic local rent plans of management those who live, work and play Bruns Chamber business sector, encouraging (POM) in light of our mis- in Brunswick Heads.’ But what is the business sustainable and innovative sion statement and see which community’s position? business development, in line of our concerns have been February 1 meet Brunswick Heads cham- with the community’s vision addressed and which sugges- Another community in- ber of commerce president for Brunswick Heads.” Brun- tions have been incorporated formation session will be held Todd Buckland says, ‘In 2010 swick Heads has many stra- in the new POMs. by Mr Bolger on February 1 the Brunswick Heads Cham- tegic planning documents, ‘We will be making con- in the Memorial Park from ber of Commerce prepared including the “Taking Care structive suggestions for any- 9am to 12pm as part of the a comprehensive submis- of Brunswick Tourism Man- thing we feel is an issue. local market. sion on the previous Holiday agement Plan” and the “Com- ‘Th e thrust of our submis- Q Editorial page 10 What’s it cost to run for Council? No fees BRING continued from page 1 lations company Zakazukha $5,792.67, while $1,505 was cording to AEC records, it THIS backers”. I think it would be also received $880. spent with The Echo and a Sat- was his own cash. And while Best rates COUPON IN quite obvious to anyone who urday Star advertisement cost it didn’t get his other candi- International money FOR BEST reviewed my votes, and my Cr Di Woods $275. Designer Tony Gooley dates elected, Cr Cameron’s transfers available RATE! carefully stated reasons, that The True Independents, was paid $3,916 and t-shirts expenditure showed a healthy I am not beholden to any led by Cr Di Woods, raised and stickers were produced. advertising spend across all Exotic currencies on hand backers, unlike some of the by far the most capital with 30 Asked if she would ad- media. As for ink on paper, Greens of course. Th e Greens individuals donating $19,728 vocate a change in donation The Village Journal was Special rates for Seniors received about a third of the alone (all anonymously as disclosure given donations paid $340, Bangalow Heart- votes, and my votes were they are under $1,000).