GRIST FOR THE MILL WHILE IN BYRON WE CHILL The Byron Shire Echo • Volume 33 #34 • Wednesday, January 30, 2019 • www.echo.net.au ŕëīëŕĎǖëīĎëƷĈĕōĕćſëƐĕĎ Change maker accolades The founder of a program off ering Richardson said. emergency accommodation and Other award recipients were help to women has been named volunteer of the year Lynn Smith, Byron Shire’s 2019 citizen of the year. creative artist of the year Will SHIFT Project founder Anne Gammon, and sportsperson of the Goslett joined other award recipi- year Chris Layland. Community ents in being recognised as tireless event of 2018 was awarded to the contributors to the community at Mullumbimby Agricultural Show the Australia Day awards presenta- and environmental project of the tion, held at the Cavanbah Centre year went to the Rotary Club of Mul- on Friday. lumbimby for their Rainforest Park. Byron Shire mayor Simon Rich- ardson said, ‘Anne’s compassion and drive to help women in our Shire has directly changed the lives of 32 women in our community in the short space of three years and for this we are very grateful.’ Senior citizen of the year is Sybil Johnston, who is well known for her work with the Bangalow CWA. ‘Sybil is also involved in the Bangalow RSL, the Red Cross and the Bangalow Show and it’s fabu- Senior citizen of the year Sybil lous that we are able to recognise Johnston with mayor Simon Hugh and Rosie Hudson at Saturday’s combined service clubs Australia Day breakfast in Brunswick Heads. the wonderful work she does for Richardson. Photo supplied by Events were held throughout the Shire, including Survival Day. Photo Jeff Dawson the Bangalow community,’ mayor MLC Ben Franklin’s off ice Election candidates disclose drug use Hans Lovejoy substance, and if so, what?’ people do try substances – legal marijuana since then.’ illegal substance, marijuana and Local Ballina MP Tamara Smith and illegal – that can harm them.’ Franklin reiterated his position on MDMA, a few times, but those days With Greens MP Cate Faehrmann’s told The Echo, ‘It’s diff icult to ‘I believe we need to treat per- pill testing and said, ‘On a personal are firmly behind me.’ admission recently that she has answer this question publicly but sonal drug use as a health issue and level, I am not opposed to the con- taken illegal substances, what it’s time we had an honest conver- that it is by increasing education, sideration of pill testing. However Pugh tried pot, MDMA better opportunity to ask the three sation about drugs because the war counselling and support for people any policy change in this area must Pugh also responded to com- state election candidates about on drugs has failed.’ that we will reduce drug use – and be evidence-based and developed ments by Nationals candidate Ben their own drug use? that’s a good thing.’ aft er advice from local and interna- Franklin, who told The Byron News Smith smoked weed, (Newscorp) last week that ‘the [pill Three candidates that have so far Franklin tried marijuana tional experts and examining experi- declared their intention to run for tried ecstasy ence from around the world. I think testing] issue cannot be considered the NSW election seat of Ballina on Ben Franklin MLC (Nationals) it’s very diff icult to do that during rationally and sensibly during the March 23 are incumbent MP Tamara ‘In my younger years I smoked told The Echo, ‘Like many others of the heightened emotional climate of heat of a campaign.’ Smith (Greens), Asren Pugh (Labor) pot and I tried ecstasy.’ my generation, I tried marijuana an election campaign.’ Pugh said, ’The whole reason we and Ben Franklin MLC (Nationals). She said, ‘The real issue is when I was at university. I have Labor candidate Asren Pugh have an election campaign is to tell The Echo asked all three if whether or not we take steps to never taken any other illegal told The Echo ‘Yes’. people what we stand for, who we they had ‘ever taken an illegal protect people’s lives because substance and have not smoked ‘In the past I have tried an ▶ Continued on page 2 Who’s in charge of Big picture activism Byron Shire Is your money Healthtastic Byron’s transport challenges economic Council safe in the bank? Healing feature! hub? ▶ p5 growth, Feb 13 ▶ p8 Notices ▶ p10 ▶ p17 ▶ p18–22 Open Daily 10am–5pm NSW time Local News For North Coast news online visit Activist locks on to hospital Calls to clean up Butler Street Reserve Paul Bibby ‘Oft en by one or two o’clock in the morning these Hud Maughan wakes each people [vanpackers] have had morning wondering what a few drinks and that isn’t ‘little delights’ he will dis- always a safe environment for cover in the front yard of his staff to walk into,’ he said. family’s Byron Bay home. ‘It’s also not always That’s if he managed to safe for the vanpackers to David Bradbury and police. Photo supplied get to sleep in the first place. be told they have to leave The 39-year-old’s house is because they’re heavily Well-known Mullumbimby Council denies this. located next to the free park- aff ected by alcohol.’ local, documentary filmmaker Mayor Simon Richardson ing zone in Byron’s Butler The mayor added Council David Bradbury, locked onto (Greens) took to Facebook and Street Reserve, putting him, rangers inspected the parking an excavator at the old Mul- said while he supports Brad- his mother, and brother area two to three times a day. lumbimby hospital site last bury’s long history of activism, right at the pointy end of the But Mr Maughan is Wednesday. the independent report town’s vanpacking problem. adamant that, in his patch at Mr Bradbury, who is concluded that the asbestos in Every night a dozen or Byron’s Butler Street Reserve. Photo supplied least, more needs to be done. spearheading a last-ditch the building is a public danger more travellers park up in ‘I would absolutely community bid to save the and needs to be removed. the reserve, playing loud without the power to tow camping and they should be disagree with the mayor that hospital buildings, was But Mr Bradbury said, music, leaving behind their vehicles or use tyre clamps, able to enforce the rules,’ Mr there are rangers here two or handed a $300 fine by police. ‘Council was only given the rubbish and, more oft en than there’s little more they can do. Pugh said. three times a day,’ he said. The hospital, which was hospital for $1 if they agreed not, excrement. Figures provided to The Mayor Simon Richardson sold to Byron Shire Council to demolish the site using the ‘Ever since the council Echo show that Council (Greens) agrees that tougher Free parking but for $1, is set to be demolished Tweed-based contractor the made it free parking the has issued 74 infringement laws are needed to address little policing owing to asbestos contami- state government had already backpackers have been notices to people parking the issue. nation, at a cost to Council of signed the contract with’. taking advantage – staying in and around Butler Street He told The Echo, ‘I really ‘I would say they are $3 million. Mr Bradbury has called for there overnight, dumping Reserve between 4am and feel for any locals who are here every second day at Mr Bradbury says the a public meeting on January their rubbish, and going to 6am (when parking is prohib- caught up in it, but until most. I think it’s strange that buildings could be remedi- 31 from 6pm at the Mullum the toilet,’ he says. ited) since November 18. the laws are changed [by Council have made it free ated and retained for a frac- Services Club to discuss a stay Six infringements for the state government] to parking here, but they’re not tion of the sum – although of execution for the hospital. Health hazard camping have been issued in give rangers greater powers really willing to police the ‘The rubbish blows the same area. there’s not much more we time limit. into our front yard and can do,’ Cr Richardson said. ‘I’m the one riding around DR. ALBERT SALMONA sometimes they defecate or Wheel clamps Cr Richardson said on my bike every day telling MB, BS, (Syd), FAARM, urinate there. needed rangers needed to be able people that they can’t camp ABAARM, Grad. Dip. Ac. ‘It’s a health hazard, it’s to put wheel clamps on here. Sometimes they’re absolutely disgusting. Labor’s candidate for the illegally parked vehicles okay and they apologise and ‘We also have to put state seat of Ballina, Asren and to tow them in certain move on, but other times “The science of healthy ageing” up with the sound of loud Pugh, called last week for circumstances. they become quite rude and Specialising in: music and car doors being parking rangers to be given ‘I think if we could do that aggressive and refuse to leave. MENOPAUSE – PERIMENOPAUSE slammed late into the night.’ greater powers, including things would change pretty He called on Council to MEN’S HEALTH – ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION With vanpacking seem- wheel camping. quickly, not just here, but either lock the gates of the BIO-IDENTICAL HORMONES ingly becoming more He said in a media across the Shire more gener- reserve each evening, or to WEIGHT LOSS popular than ever, the issue statement that rangers ally,’ he said.