THE BYRON SHIRE Rivers Volume 31 #39 Northern Wednesday, March 8, 2017 Women www.echo.net.au Phone 02 6684 1777 in Business [email protected] [email protected] pages 15-17 23,200 copies every week CAB ANYTHING BUT THE ALT RIGHT AND THE LEFTARD AUDIT Online in netdaily Malcolm steers a ghost Sea Shepherd What’s new Arts & industry Pressure on Hogan to stand ship on the wrong side checks Ballina’s in the Shire? estate feature up for penalty rates www.echo.net.au/pressure-hogan- of history – Mungo, p8 shark nets – p5 – p18 – p19 stand-penalty-rates Promises ignored Fukushima remembered Hans Lovejoy and regional economy, yet we are largely ignored when it comes to re- Funding commitments for Byron ceiving any financial support.’. Shire Council that have been ig- ‘Byron ratepayers are becoming nored by the state government are increasingly annoyed that they are causing ‘reputational damage,’ ac- being asked to fund infrastructure cording to Council’s general man- that is damaged and degraded by ager (GM) Ken Gainger. millions of visitors. 15,300 ratepay- Describing them as ‘hollow ers cannot continue to support two promises’, Mr Gainger says there is million visitors without significant yet to be action over promises by government support,’ he said. Transport for NSW (TfNSW) to construct a ‘multi-million-dollar bus Surprised MLC interchange for Byron Bay.’ Parliamentary secretary for north- Meanwhile he says a National ern NSW Ben Franklin (Nationals) Party commitment to repair the told The Echo he was ‘surprised by crumbling Belongil Creek Bridge the media release from Byron Coun- on Ewingsdale Road is yet to be ad- cil about their concerns.’ dressed and a promise from Roads ‘Council made representations to and Maritime Services (RMS) is yet me regarding the bus interchange is- to materialise for an upgrade of the sue. As they know, I have had for- St Helena lookout. mal communication with both the While these projects fall under minister for transport’s office and the the authority of government de- minister for lands. Discussions have partments, the relevant coalition been constructive and we are working ministers who are responsible for towards a positive outcome,’ he said. Local Japanese activists Yumiko Gooch and Saya Minami. Photo Jeff Dawson those departments are RMS minis- ‘Similarly, they also raised with ter Melinda Pavey (Nationals) and me the Belongil Creek Bridge is- With the sixth anniversary of the exist, The Guardian reported last sues around Fukushima, but I want- minister for Transport and Infra- sue. Although this is a federal matter Fukushima nuclear disaster this month, while operator Tepco con- ed to focus on the people, as they are structure Andrew Constance (Lib- and outside of my purview, I have week, a locally produced short film, tinues to try and decommission the still living in Fukushima and dealing eral). They were recently appointed formally raised the issue with the Good Fortune Island, will screen at plant. It’s a process that is expected to with invisible fears and a hopeless after a cabinet reshuffle. federal minister for transport and the Mullumbimby Drill Hall from take about four decades. situation. So we made this film about Mr Gainger’s comments come am awaiting his response. 2pm till 8pm on March 11. a [fictitious] boy from Fukushima just as NSW minister for tourism ‘Byron Council know that these is- Starring local Japanese actress Current status who gets thyroid cancer. Many peo- and major events Adam Marshall sues are being examined. I would have and anti-nuclear activist Saya Mi- Ms Minami answered questions ple are still living inside Fukushima, (Nationals) visited the Shire on Mon- thought they should await the out- nami, the film will be part of a wider around the current status of Fuku- even inside of the 20km exclusion day to announce a $95,000 package comes of these representations before week of action planned to highlight shima and the new film. zone around the nuclear plant. for local events (see page three). running to the media to complain. the dangers of nuclear, the lack of What is the short film about? According to Greenpeace, the Mayor Simon Richardson told ‘They are welcome to raise their mainstream media reporting and The film is a 17-minute drama/ Japanese government is encourag- The Echo he was disappointed that other issues of concern with me if the Japanese government’s secrecy. short film called Good Fortune Is- ing evacuees from Fukushima to the minister failed to contact him they wish and I will try to assist there On March 11, 2011 the Fukushima land. Fukushima in English is Fuku return home, despite dangerous lev- and staff over the visit and sup- too. Unfortunately, Byron Council nuclear power plant, located next to (good fortune) and Shima (island). els of radiation. They are planning ported Mr Gainger’s views on state have jumped the gun and appear the ocean, suffered a triple meltdown It was made by a Gold Coast-based to cut housing support for those government inaction. to be playing politics with impor- following a devastating tsunami that film production company and local evacuees at the end of this month. Mr Gainger said, ‘Byron Shire tant local infrastructure issues rather hit Japan’s northeastern seaboard. Byron actors. People are always con- Greenpeace say the radiation levels contributes significantly to the state continued on page 2 ‘Extremely high radiation levels’ still cerned about the environmental is- continued on page 2 888 Solar Tek is the top-selling retailer for solar battery systems Add Batteries to Any Solar System in the Northern Rivers. We supply customised new or retrofit New Solar Battery Controller Fits Any Inverter systems to match your power use - not a one size fits all package. 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Affordable Hybrid and Off Grid Solar Battery Storage & Solar Hot Water Call 888 Vincent Selleck for a Free Consultation Ph 02 6688 4480 www.888solartek.com.au Local News North Coast news daily: netdaily.net.au Reactivating Byron’s laneways A secrect nuclear disaster, six years on As part of the Byron Bay continued from page 1 I remember a few years Is part of the issue that the master-planning process, are comparable to Cherno- ago the Japanese government government-owned Tepco Creative Road and Fuller- byl’s exclusion zone. or Tepco refused help from has no transparency and ton Creative have brought Do you believe Japanese other countries. I am not sure that the Japanese are largely together a collaboration of people are aware of the dan- of the current situation, but politically unaware of the is- multi-artform artists to per- gers? most Japanese people are un- sue? I understand the Japa- manently transform Byron’s The Japanese govern- able to speak English, so it nese media do not ask any Lawson Lane. ment has spent a lot of money would be very hard for them hard questions of politicians The project kicked off this to control information about to get help from overseas. and that bureaucrats run week, thanks to key support- Fukushima on the internet. There is a working time everything. er Byron Shire Council, who Also, they employed a famous limit for nuclear workers in Even I can’t believe this, have contributed $20,000 to professor as a radiation risk- Fukushima, so they need to but although most Japanese seed fund the project. Andrew Dennis is one of many artists who have started the management adviser and did keep sending many people people know about the Fuku- QTo get involved visit fa- Elysium project, which is the transformation of Lawson Lane, a big campaign that ‘radia- to Fukushima nuclear power shima nuclear accident, they cebook.com/elysium2481. Byron Bay. Photo Jeff Dawson tion is safe’ around Fukush- plant. They have started em- don’t know how the radiation ima. They also spent a lot of ploying people from other affects their body. money with Japan’s biggest Asian countries with the They get too much wrong Govt promises to council ignored advertising company Dentsu cleanup. information that says ‘radia- continued from page 1 achieve an outcome – and I that ‘TfNSW and Sydney to advertise that ‘Fukushima Why is there is so little tion is safe’. than constructively trying to will continue to do so,’ he said. Trains has been working with is safe, let’s eat Fukushima movement on this major is- Also they believe pollu- solve them,’ Mr Franklin said. In reply to the GM’s claims, Byron Bay [sic] Council and food and support them’. sue? tion called PM2.5 is coming Mr Franklin also took the an RMS spokesperson said Crown Lands to determine So many people are con- I think it’s a cultural thing from China… it’s also media opportunity to try and gain they are committed to upgrad- an appropriate site for a bus fused with all the different as well. Most Japanese people controlled by government to political points against local ing the lookout at the intersec- interchange at Byron Bay.’ information from the gov- think that they shouldn’t talk cause confusion to people to MP Tamara Smith (Greens).