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THE BYRON SHIRE Volume 23 #22 Tuesday, November 4, 2008 Mullumbimby 02 6684 1777 Byron Bay 02 6685 5222 Fax 02 6684 1719 [email protected] [email protected] www.echo.net.au Pages 19 - 21 22,700 copies every week REALITY BY A HALF HEAD Council seeks to exhibit new LEP Michael McDonald key strategic directions as they af- fect the planning document. Cr Bar- Unease pipped Confusion at the post ham found the LEP process to date in the Local Environmental Plan confusing and sought greater clarity: Stakes last Friday. Byron Shire coun- ‘This is meant to be our community cillors struggled to come to grips document to define the future.’ with the new draft LEP, staff stressed Mayor Barham was also critical the urgency of getting the plan on of the way the LEP was progressed public exhibition, and Belongil resi- through Council without council- dent John Vaughan voiced concerns lor input through a formal planning over some of the plan’s ‘arduous and committee. ‘I’d like to return to that stringent’ zonings. time-honoured tradition, ‘ she said. The process was no easier for the She described some of the state general public and the media. An- government planning templates as nexures from an earlier meeting were ‘not appropriate’ and said the LES missing from the agenda papers and ‘shouldn’t have cost $100,000’. one related report only turned up in During public access Mr Vaughan, paper form on the day. the lone speaker, claimed that, un- You will believe a turtle can fly: Australian Seabird Rescue’s Garry Fenton gets ready to release Rasputin at The And what was meant to be a meet- der the new LEP zonings, property Pass last Friday. Photo Jeff ‘The Old Shell Game’ Dawson. ing about the LEP swung chiefly to an rights of landowners on the Belongil hours-long debate on holiday letting. beachfront would be removed with- That debate resulted in a successful out compensation. ‘This will have an motion by Cr Patrick Morrisey for enormous economic impact and will Help keep track of turtles Council to adopt a holiday letting only end up in a bunfight,’ he said. model regulated through an approv- Councillors were broadly of two ‘Make Turtles Count’ is not a com- and Tweed Rivers. Partner agen- now we all have the opportunity to al system other than by development schools of thought: that more infor- pulsory arithmetic project for reptiles cies include the National Parks and work together on this project. application and for that model to go mation was needed before proceed- but the latest initiative of Australian Wildlife Service, Cape Byron Ma- ‘We need at least 100 people to on public exhibition. The model will ing, or, that further delays before Seabird Rescue, launched at The Pass rine Park, Southern Cross University help monitor the beaches,’ Keith said. also need state government approval, Christmas would delay the exhibi- last Friday with the release of young and the Byron Underwater Research ‘So many people already walk, surf, so Council in conjunction with other tion of the LEP unnecessarily. councils will lobby the NSW govern- turtles ‘Sassy’ and ‘Rasputin’. Group. swim or fish on the beaches, it’s just ‘Get on with it’ The Make Turtles Count project Project coordinator Keith Wil- a matter of knowing what to look for ment to that effect. ‘We need to get on with it,’ said Cr has been funded by WWF and the liams said, ‘A comprehensive nest- and how to report turtle activity.’ Holiday letting models Australian government. A beach ing and population survey has ASR will also be promoting the Ross Tucker. ‘Quite frankly I don’t monitoring program will span the never been undertaken on the far project at local markets and commu- After beginning at 10.30am and like the document but if we put it on turtle nesting and hatching season north coast and is vital for the ongo- nity events and people will be able waddling through to 3.30pm, Coun- exhibition, landowners can have a from November 1 to April 30, as well ing protection of these endangered to sign up for the project at a ‘Make cil also resolved 7-1, Cr Cameron look at it. If you think holiday letting as four 10-day underwater surveys species. Turtles Count’ stall. Further infor- opposed, to seek approval from the will be the only issue, then you’re conducted through the year. ‘Over the past few years local mation is available from admin@ Department of Planning (DoP) to mistaken. The LEP we have now will The project covers 225 kilometres beach users have demonstrated their seabirdrescue.org or 6686 2852 dur- put the draft LEP on public exhibi- not be the document we end up with of coastline between the Clarence interest in looking out for turtles and ing office hours. tion and to include provisions for in 18 to 24 months – it’ll get a terrific holiday letting based on the Morrisey amount of panelbeating.’ model rather than the 12 options of- To add to the panelbeating, NSW Northern sports fields strategy adopted fered up by staff. Council’s planners planning minister Kristina Keneally expect the DoP will take around six has just announced another round of Further sports fields in the north ing for the Tom Kendall Field at New Council will also hold a workshop months to give that approval and the the planning reforms which have be- of the Shire came a step closer on Brighton. ‘to address the issues of Lot 423, New final LEP is unlikely to be gazetted devilled the process over the last few October 23 when Councillors voted The amendments also included Brighton and Dung Oval, Billinudgel before the end of 2009. years. This reform allows for ‘special 8-0 in favour of a motion from Cr development of additional ameni- and any other related issues’. Along the way to the LEP resolu- project managers’ to manage the re- Ross Tucker to adopt the Northern ties at the fields used by the Mul- Lot 423 next to Tom Kendall Field tion, Mayor Jan Barham was success- zoning of land across the state to be Shire Sporting Fields Strategy with lumbimby Rugby League Club and at New Brighton has been targeted ful with a motion to receive a further provided more quickly for housing, amendments. The outcome will see improvements at the Mullumbimby for additional sports fields but some report on the Local Environmental commercial or industrial use. Watch dressing rooms, showers and light- netball courts. continued on page 2 Study (LES) for the LEP clarifying this space. Local News Whale dreaming gets a screening Filmmaker Kim Kindersley, right, with local relatives of the custodians featured in Whaledreamers, one of the film’s central characters, dispossessed song man Bunna Lawrie and a few friends at the showing of the movie by the Byron based AA breathtakingbreathtaking displaydisplay ofof director at Byron Cinemas indigenousindigenous artsarts andand crafts.crafts. on Friday evening. The film, "* Ê/ÕiÃ`>ÞÊÌÊ-Õ`>Þ£ä°ää>ÊÌÊn°ää« produced by Julian Lennon, is the’ heartfelt story of the - «ÊÎ]ÊÓÊiÌV iÀÊ-ÌÀiiÌÊ ÞÀÊ >ÞÊ -7ÊÕÃÌÀ>>ÊÓ{n£Ê *\Êȣʭä®ÓÊÈÈnäÊnn£ÎÊÊÊÊ\Êȣʭä®ÓÊÈÈnäÊnnÎx return of an aboriginal whale dreaming tribe from the edge of extinction and the ÜÜÜ°LL>LÞÀL>Þ°V equally, long journey of the whales’. See more at www. whaledreamers.com. Photo Jeff Dawson Becton optimistic in market turmoil Michael McDonald of $5.10 a share in November Becton’s development man- of the Becton business are 2007. Since then, and after a ager Matthew Rice last Fri- strong and its projects, in- Despite turmoil on the stock trading halt, shares improved day told The Echo, ‘It is not cluding Northbeach Byron, market, Becton hopes to pro- after Becton confirmed it had possible to know what impact are integral to the value of the ceed as planned with its North industry participants inter- the current formal due dili- business. Beach development at Byron ested in buying into the com- gence discussion will have on ‘We are currently working Bay. In recent weeks the com- pany. This could come in the individual projects, therefore on designs for the site with So that’s why Dave’s pany’s stock price dropped to form of recapitalisation or a it is premature to predict any the intention still to launch wearing sunglasses! 15 cents, compared to a high buyout. outcome. The fundamentals in 2009.’ But he’s not blind when it comes to the fi rst- class quality of their products. For blinds, Sports fields strategy adopted Church belltower security doors, screens, awnings and patio From front page Council also consulted with covers for homes and businesses call the residents have objected on sporting groups at the Ocean fundraising at crucial stage blind man for a quote. He’ll see you’re right! ecological grounds and, in Shores Community Centre on Throughout Byron Shire the case of neighbours, loss June 23. Fundraising activities for a big ask we are still hopeful of of amenity. The purchase of Under the strategy Council the repairs to the bell tower achieving this goal.’ RUNSWICK HEAD Dung Oval at Billinudgel has will also develop netball/bas- at St Martin’s in Stuart Street Work has commenced with BBLINDS & AWNINGS been considered before but ketball courts at Water Lily Mullumbimby have reached the first stage being the raising S a crucial stage according to of a scaffold around the tower. 14 Bonanza Drive Billinudgel 6680 4353 not supported by previous Park, Ocean Shores, upgrade councils because of flood- soccer fields at Pine Avenue, Margaret Giles, treasurer of After this the bricks will be ing issues and distance from Mullumbimby, provide lights the restoration committee.

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