THE BYRON SHIRE ECHO Advertising & news enquiries: .37%,%#4)/. Mullumbimby 02 6684 1777 Byron Bay 02 6685 5222 Fax 02 6684 1719 [email protected] [email protected] http://www.echo.net.au VOLUME 21 #40 TUESDAY, MARCH 20, 2007 22,300 copies every week PAGES $1 at newsagents only BRING ME THE HEAD OF A SENATOR Rural groups lobby against Bioplastics factory for Mullum ‘suburban satellites’ Five community groups rep- future rural community title of suburban subdivisions,’ resenting residents from the (CT) settlement in the Shire the groups said in a joint Byron hinterland communi- under the BRSS, with 215 press release. ‘This will result ties of Main Arm, Eureka, houses planned for Federal/ in a great loss of social amen- Federal, Coorabell and Coorabell, 169 houses in ity for residents, who live in Coopers Shoot/Broken Head Eureka, 135 houses in Main these areas to have a peaceful have come together to try to Arm and 105 houses in rural lifestyle. stop ‘any further inappropri- Coopers Shoot/Broken ‘It also goes directly against ate suburban style settle- Head. a key BRSS rural land release ment’ in their areas under ‘If the fi nal BRSS is fully purpose “to minimise the the 1998 Byron Rural Settle- implemented, it will create potential social impact and ment Strategy (BRSS). four new, densely populated costs to the existing commu- These fi ve areas account satellites, each with hundreds nity, particularly in areas for almost all the planned of new residents, in a series affected by proposed rural settlement”.’ Council is currently con- Art for heart’s sake ducting an overdue ‘limited’ review of the BRSS, which was supposed to occur in 2003. According to the Zelfo founder Paul Benhaim with Mayor Jan Barham and the didgeredoo she had just won in a fiercely fought bidding war against Greens MLC Ian Cohen. The didge is made using the revolution- groups’ spokesperson, Nino ary Zelfo plastic from plants process, a constituent of which was waste paper recycled from Byron MacDonald, ‘We believe it is Shire Council offices. Photo Jeff ‘Blowhard’ Dawson vital that we have an oppor- tunity to meet with Council’s Hans Lovejoy cal instruments. ‘We are tak- rial made from recycled planning staff and with In what is a fi rst for Byron ing cellulose based material paper, natural fibres and Councillors to discuss our Shire, a new factory produc- and making it into moldable other cellulose raw materials, concerns with the proposed ing hemp and recycled paper forms,’ manager Paul Ben- according to Mr Benhaim. rural settlement strategy as products opened its doors haim told The Echo. ‘All ‘Our company is also car- part of the review process. offi cially last Friday in the Byron Council’s paper waste bon neutral,’ he claims. ‘The We believe that our areas Ross Industrial Complex in is being recycled, so rates production process is sus- should be eliminated from Mullumbimby. notices and parking fines tainable: the larger manufac- any future consideration for Zelfo Australia manufac- could now be that new chair, turing machines run on veg- future rural community title tures high-end designed jewellery or drum.’ etable oil and the drying settlement as has been pro- items such as homewares, The substance is a strong, room is powered by solar. posed in the BRSS. lighting, furniture and musi- light, solid wood-like mate- continued on page 2 ‘In the publicly exhibited 1998 Draft BRSS, Council selected nine geographically dispersed areas for commu- Sex assault: fi ve teens charged nity title settlement, sensibly Five local teenagers have Local Area Command and aggravated sexual inter- situated close to Mullum- been charged with sex inquiries led to the arrest of course in company with a bimby or Byron Bay. How- offences after the alleged the fi ve teenagers last week. person aged between 10 and ever in the final version, assault of a 13-year-old girl. A 17-year-old youth was 14 years and a 16-year-old seven localities were elimi- Police have declined to give charged with two counts of youth was charged with one nated with only Broken Head the location of the assault in aggravated sexual intercourse count of the offence. They and Coopers Shoot remain- order to protect the girl’s in company with a person were granted conditional ing from the original list. identity. aged between 10 and 14 bail to appear before Byron ‘Instead, Council substi- Police will allege that on years, while a second 17- Bay Court on Friday April tuted the isolated communi- Sunday March 11 fi ve teen- year-old youth was charged 13. Isabelle Wills puts the finishing touches on her hearts at the Heart- ties of Main Arm, Federal/ age males aged between 16 with one count of the same A 16-year-old youth has land workshop at the Brunswick Housie Shed on Saturday. Organ- Coorabell and Eureka in the and 18 had sex with the girl offence. Both were granted appeared last week in Byron ised by artist Samantha Collyer, the shed was full to overflowing fi nal strategy, yet failed to at an address in the Byron- conditional bail to appear at Bay Court charged with with people of all ages creating clay hearts and painting pebbles consult the communities Tweed area. The matter was Byron Bay Court on Thurs- three counts of aggravated that are to be united in a community art installation in the park before the switch was made. investigated by the Ballina day April 5. sexual intercourse in com- near Torakina. Led by the Heart Circles Choir, the shed brimmed with ‘This change goes against a Joint Investigation Response An 18-year-old man was pany with a person aged creative expression in song as well as in clay. Photo Lou Beaumont continued on page 4 Team and Tweed/Byron charged with two counts of between 10 and 14 years. 6[\aXfX4ag\dhXf9hea\gheX6he\bf 9OUAREINVITEDTO 3'!SOPENING BcXa\aZ ON4HURSDAY-ARCH PMTILLPM 2EFRESHMENTSSERVED F!:!4!J[b_XfT_X -ECCA#ENTRE #ENTENNIAL#IRCUIT"YRON"AY!RTS)NDUSTRY%STATE 2 March 20, 2007 Byron Shire Echo www.echo.net.au Local News Blitzed them New gallery opens in Mullum ÀÊ>iÊ,ivvi Film festival organisers 7i½ÃÊi>Ì Ê>`Ê7iLi} Bryan Nykon and Megan Farnsworth couldn’t be hap- >Êi`V>Ê«À>VÌViÊvÀÊÜi½ÃÊ i>Ì Ê«ÀLià pier with the outcome of the fi rst annual Byron Bay Blitz ÎÉ£äÊ-Ì>ÌÊ-Ì]Ê >}>Ü Fest. From March 10-12, 11 ««ÌiÌÃ\ÊÈÈnÇÊÓÎÎÇ teams of local fi lmmakers ­i`V>ÊÀiL>ÌiÃÊ>««Þ® took over the streets, homes and beaches of Byron Bay in a contest to produce the best 7iÊÜ>ÊV iVÃ]Ê>ÊÜi½ÃÊ i>Ì ÊÃÃÕiÃÊ fi ve minute fi lm. The results VÕ`}Êi«>ÕÃiÊ>`Ê`i«ÀiÃð were an incredibly eclectic collection of comedy, horror, drama, and documentary. After long deliberation, the 34!249/52/7..%7"53).%33 panel of industry professio- ÀiÊÞÕÊÀi}ÃÌiÀi`ÊÜÌ Ê iÌÀi¶ nal judges decided the Best Film was Mal Roorda’s zany / iÊ -Ê*À}À>Ê>ÞÊLiÊ>LiÊ comedy The Easter Bunny ÌÊ i«ÊÞÕÊvÀÊ, ° Died for our Sins. The Artist James Guppy and Nadine Abensur discuss the weather to a backdrop of Christine Wilcox’s >ÃÌÊ««ÀÌÕÌÞÊÌ ÃÊw>V>ÊÞi>À° audience agreed, giving it the paintings at the opening of Nadine’s Art Piece Gallery in Mullumbimby on Friday night. The gallery is Audience Choice Award. on the site of the former Piece Gallery in Stuart Street. Photo Jeff ‘Clouding Around’ Dawson iÝÌÊVÕÀÃiÃÊÃÌ>ÀÌÊi>ÀÊÞÕÊwÀÃÌÊÜiiÊÊ«À° >Ê/ Ê 1- --Ê " ÊÜt £ÎääÊ£ÎnÊÎnÎÊÀÊÈÈx£ÊnnnnÊ Ballina opens court to young drivers vÀÊ, ÊvÊÌ Teenage motorists are being said Ballina Court Deputy offenders – it’s a great way theatre to the open day, ÜÜÜ°Ì iLÕÃiÃÃVi}i°V°>Õ encouraged to attend an Registrar Leann Hatfi eld. for all young people to dressing as convicts to pro- open day at Ballina Court on The police Booze Bus will become better drivers. Peo- mote the event. Wednesday March 28 with be onsite at the open day and ple will be able to sign up for The SES will be in attend- the Law Week event to focus the Lismore PCYC will pro- the course on the day,’ said ance with their truck on dis- on safe driving. vide information about its Ms Hatfi eld. play, the Lions Club will be ‘There has been consider- Traffi c Education program. Southern Cross University hosting a BBQ and the Angli- able debate about laws gov- ‘Magistrates can refer Chancellor and former NSW can Mothers Union will pro- erning P-plate drivers follow- defendants to the six-week Attorney General John Dowd vide a free morning tea. ing a spate of tragic accidents program before sentencing will be the guest speaker at ‘The nearby Ballina involving young people. The them for driving offences. the open day. Ms Hatfi eld Library will be simultane- open day will highlight the The weekly lessons cover a said court tours would also ously holding an open day dangers of speeding and host of topics including be operating throughout the with staff to provide demon- drink driving and outline defensive driving, substance day. strations on how to conduct penalties young motorists abuse and legal issues. The Actors from the Ballina legal research,’ said Ms Hat- face if they break the law,’ program isn’t just for traffi c Players will bring a touch of fi eld. Library closed Bioplastics factory launched in Mullumbimby s,OGBOOK - /9Ê SERVICING Byron Shire Council advises From front page lade, who demonstrated both people full time and a few that the Byron Bay regional ‘There are no chemicals or a paper and hemp made did- part time workers.