BLESSINGS AND CURSES SINCE 1986 The Byron Shire Echo • Volume 35 #13 • Wednesday, September 9, 2020 • www.echo.net.au Exploring the Tourism thriving, risks of illegal Freedom’s limit tested building sector dwellings under pressure Aslan Shand Aslan Shand The impacts of the border closure The Byron Shire and the Northern are significant in the health and Rivers are well known for their construction sectors; however, the abundent range of illegal dwellings, tourism and retail spaces appear to additions, and converted garages. be holding their ground. Byron Shire Council is currently Destination Byron president running its second illegal or ‘unau- David Jones told The Echo, ‘North- thorised’ dwelling moratorium, the ern NSW has indeed become one of first being under Greens mayor Jan the strongest, perhaps the strong- Barham in the 1990s. est, of the visitor economies in So what does this new morato- Australia, aft er the easing of travel rium mean for owners, sellers, and restrictions to regional NSW’. buyers? This appears to be the consen- In their PR, Council have said sus of business chambers across that they will be taking a ‘tough the region, including in Murwillum- stance’ on illegal dwellings that bah, Byron Bay, and Mullumbimby. were built aft er 18 June 2020. ‘Retail in Mullumbimby has In addition to Council’s threat, picked up again following the COVID- residents need to consider insur- 19 lockdown,’ said Mullum’s cham- ance and resale risks. ber president, Janelle Stanford. ‘If there is a house on the land, Byron’s chamber president, but it is not approved by Council, Todd Sotheren, added, ‘While I then the property is only worth the completely appreciate the many Despite a lack of support from Bundjalung woman Delta Kay, and condemnation by police, hundreds of land value’, said Russell Shaw from hardships imposed by the border protesters marched up Jonson Street on Saturday. At the Peace Pole near the Surf Club, speakers questioned Acceptance Finance in Bangalow. closure, in terms of the recovery the validity of COVID-19 lockdowns, border closures, government interventions and mandatory vaccinations. In regards to secondary dwell- of our visitor economy, it seems to Photo Jeff ‘Relatively Free Since 1986’ Dawson ings and improvements, he said have created a catch-all eff ect – as that banks aren’t particularly con- Hans Lovejoy more than 20 people’. draconian measures. we are essentially the furthest north cerned about illegal granny flats, or Det Chief Insp Matt Kehoe from One speaker told The Echo, ‘Bris- that escapees from Sydney can go’. inbuilding downstairs. Saturday’s march from Railway Tweed Byron Police District told bane’s march had no arrests and Meanwhile, the QLD border clo- However, if you are looking to Park in the name of freedom The Echo that police spoke with was held next to a football game’. sure has impacted the building and use the existence of a secondary resulted in nine arrests and charges organisers several times prior to ‘Byron’s night markets were set- construction industry. Tweed Shire dwelling on the property, which laid for breaching Public Health Saturday’s event and requested ting up as we were leaving. According Mayor Katie Milne (Greens) told The doesn’t have Council approval, to Orders, assaulting police (x1), resist- that the event be postponed or the these alleged directives, everyone Echo, ‘There are enormous impacts support your mortgage application, ing arrest and hindering police. cancelled owing to the existing in town was breaching them’. on businesses, both large and you will struggle. The march was part of a national Health Minister’s order. March organisers promoted free- small, with ripple eff ects occurring ‘A legal secondary dwelling day of gatherings, which saw arrests ‘Organisers refused all reason- dom of choice and speech, an end throughout our communities’. increases the borrowing capacity of and scuff les with police in Sydney. able requests by police’, he said. to mandatory vaccines and border This is reflected in comments the buyer,’ said Mr Shaw. The COVID-19 related Public closures. Website links supplied to from other local Mayors, David ‘Seventy-five per cent of the Health Order is made under section Health order hypocrisy The Echo by organisers were of pri- Wright from Ballina Council, Simon potential rent from the legal 7 of the Public Health Act 2010, and But organisers pointed to the vate citizen/straw man movements. Richardson from Byron Council, secondary dwelling can be used reads, ‘People can participate in hypocrisy of other public gather- The legal profession have and Deputy Mayor of Lismore City ▶ Continued on page 2 outdoor public gatherings of not ings, which do not attract similar ▶ Continued on page 2 Council, Darlene Cook. Byron Shire Big John A long labour of love What’s the A train journey Our world without Council Keevers’ and hope: rebirthing scoop? without a train art would be just Notices ▶ p10 obit ▶ p18 the Big Scrub ▶ p20 ▶ p22 ▶ p24 eh, huh? ▶ p28 Local News For North Coast news online visit DſĕĕĎşŔŔëſĈIJǕŕĎƆōĶŔĶƐƆşĪ freedom after police arrests Local biz creating a better planet ▶ Continued from page 1 waking up in the morning? Story & photo Eve Jeff ery described the movement as ‘We’re here to let everyone Organised Pseudolegal Com- know in Victoria we love Kermit the Frog said, ‘It’s not mercial Arguments (OPCA). them, in Byron and all of easy being green’ and he was Det Chief Insp Kehoe Australia, that we love them, right. Creating a service or added, ‘Police are very disap- and to let the police know we a product that is useful and pointed that the selfishness love them. sustainable, both environ- of a few people in organising ‘We want what they want. mentally and economically, this event may impact on the We want peace, we want isn’t always easy. safety, health and economic harmony, we want freedom!’ More oft en than not, a recovery of the region’. sustainable product costs ‘The people of Byron Bay Apology more at the producer’s end, and Northern Rivers have The group of organisers and consumers don’t always perhaps been impacted more added they wanted to extend put the planet first, so it than any in NSW with COVID- an apology regarding the becomes a fine balancing 19 restrictions, given our use of Aboriginal flags and act of being nice to the region’s reliance on tourism. colours used for the event. planet and not going broke ‘People have worked hard They said, ‘An aunty in the process. and endured much to ensure talked us through why the In early March, Council our region has remained a safe colours used, and the name opened submissions for their and healthy environment. This of the walk, was so off ensive 2020 Sustainability Awards has potentially been jeopard- to some of the mob’. to highlight those businesses Danni and Ash, from Earth Bottles. ised by the selfish acts of those ‘The group came together doing good things for the organising and attending in a very short space of time, environment. Mullumbimby High School allow future generations massive changes to better Saturday’s event’. and before we could invite They were unable to Green Group; Reclaim to enjoy life and the world our planet’ said Danni. ‘It is Meanwhile, Woody Samp- Delta Kay, she had already host an awards ceremony Energy; Byron Bay Public around us like we do. Not very humbling’. son from Freedom Of Choice denounced the event. this year, but still wanted School; High4Pets; Byron at recognising and acting on Danni said she feels it Alliance said, ‘The only thing I ‘Both Uncle Lewis and to showcase local com- Byron; and Earth Bottles. sustainability is to stand idly is important that people see good in life is one used in Jarmbe stressed how impor- munity groups, businesses, Dr Marcus O’Meara from by and supervise the neglect who are trying to do the service to freedom’. tant it was to have Delta do and schools who were O’Meara Dental says they are of our planet.’ right thing by the planet, by ‘Otherwise why are we the Welcome to Country’. nominated for their various over the moon to receive a Meanwhile, Earth Bottles having sustainable products projects and initiatives. sustainability award. founders Danni Carr and Ash or sustainable services, are The list of winners ‘The whole team at Grunwald say it was wonder- acknowledged. includes Resilient Byron; O’Meara Dental is passion- ful to be acknowledged within To see the stories of all Ocean Shores Tidy Towns ate about sustainability their own community for the the Byron Shire Council Committee; Mullum Cares and the environment and work they do as a company. 2020 Sustainability Awards Inc.; Byron Palms Guest- it is inspiring to live in a ‘We were among some winners, visit www. house; Zero Waste Kulture; community that echoes that pretty amazing businesses byron.nsw.gov.au/Com- ONLY Interflow Pty Ltd; O’Meara sentiment,’ he said. and groups in the awards, munity/Sustainable-living/ THE TO DATION GUIDE ACCOMMO WHAT’ Dental; Bangalow Koalas; ‘To be sustainable is to who are making some Sustainability-Awards. S ON - BYRON THE VISITOR GUIDE 2020 RIVERS NSW & NORTHERN 2019/20 BYRON AND Beyond What are the risks of buying illegal dwellings? ▶ Continued from page 1 ‘Most of our business is knocking, that is when it hadn’t physically seen the www.byronandbeyond.com www.byronand to increase the mortgage working with vendors and really becomes an issue,’ property. i beyond.com www.byronand beyond.com capacity of the borrower. purchasers to regularise he said. ‘I’ve also had sellers who It is up to the valuer to do dwellings and other diverse have pulled out of off ers at or a full check on the legal types of buildings.