Convenor’s report.
Global warming, development, tourism and the rejection of the Byron Bay LEP have been some of the major issues this year in the shire, and with the weakening of environmental protection laws at the state level there must also be an increased concern for our environment.

This year we have seen the decision on the proposed Becton development taken away from the BSC and approved by the state government. The DA for a proposed shopping mall on the outskirts of Mullumbimby, turned down by Council, has similarly been approved at State level. Developers are effectively being given two bites of the cherry.

The decision over the preferred route for the Pacific Highway from Ewingsdale to Tintenbar, and also the Tugun bypass, have been made without consideration of community wishes and will have negative consequences for the environment.

In a time of imminent peak oil and global warming, the fact that our government still insists on costly motorway upgrades for our road systems, instead of promoting alternative transport solutions like the rail, is a clear indication that industrial interests still dominate the political agenda.

The politicians’ response to global warming is nothing short of disastrous. Even though global warming has finally surfaced as an issue of real concern, the response by politicians has been typically expedient and economically opportunistic—choosing to promote the interests of nuclear energy, clean coal and carbon sequestration instead of the renewable energies that we need in order to mitigate the excesses of our carbon based economy.

Fortunately for the Byron Shire, we have been spared the worst effects of the drought currently experienced in over 90% of the state, but with the expected rise in sea levels affecting our coastline in the near future there is still no concerted planning for coastal development.

With the opening of the new West Byron STP and the lifting of the moratorium due to the increased capacity, the pressure to develop will also increase. On the brighter side, the new STP—designed to polish effluent through an innovative system of wetland ponds—should decrease pollution outflows to the Belongil estuary and Tallows creek.

Of great concern is the State government’s dismantling of environmental protection laws. The ubiquitous part 3a amendment to the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979, allows the minister of planning to become the consenting authority for what he deems as major economic and infrastructure projects. Environmental impact studies for these projects are not mandatory. The amendments considerably weaken the rights of the community to appeal Ministerial decisions in the Land and Environment Court.

The possible suburban development of Main Arm is another issue of concern. If it is allowed to proceed—against overwhelming opposition from community—it will herald the opening up to further development of our rural hinterland.

The issue of holiday letting in residential areas has had some unforeseen consequences by which an unrepresentative holiday letting lobbying group has succeeded in orchestrating the rejection of the proposed Byron Bay LEP.

The LEP has been years in the making and involved a great deal of community energy and consultation and the worry now must be the possibility that a new LEP will not be in place during the lifetime of this ‘Green’ council with a new council perhaps less favorably disposed to the environment.

The newly formed Byron United ex Byron Chambers of Commerce is considering mounting an expensive election campaign in favour of commercial interests. Byron United is also claiming it will be a peak body representing the cultural and environmental values of the community!

All in all, it has been a difficult year for the Byron Environment centre too. Membership remains steady but low- around 67. This year we have failed to attract the Federal administration grant and we must seek financial support elsewhere. However our status as a charity has been renewed and this should help us with any fundraising activities. We still have good local financial support and a special mention should go to Santos Health Foods, who not only provide us with rent free office space in Mullumbimby but have also donated $360 towards setting up broadband in the office.

I see two principal challenges facing the BEC in the coming year.

Firstly we need to attract a younger generation of activists. The BEC’s energy is still largely sustained by an aging generation of environmentalists, a situation that needs to change, if we are to become a viable organisation capable of responding to the challenging years ahead.

Secondly there is an urgent need to redefine the role of our office. At present it is an under-utilised resource and too much of the time spent there by our volunteers is focused on housekeeping issues rather than environmental ones. Perhaps we need to go through a visioning process, and to that end it would be helpful to find an office coordinator prepared to take on this challenge.

 BEC primary activities include:
-Maintaining the office and kiosk, keeping them open to the public as a source of environmental information, petitions and submissions and a focus for various community campaigns.

-Monthly stall at the Byron community market.

-Continuing our stewardship of the Cumbebin Wetland in Byron Bay, maintaining and improving the wetland environment through our ongoing chemical free regeneration program.

-Continued representation on various community committees.

BEC HUBS
Mullumbimby.
Office co-ordinator: Nino MacDonald.
Thanks to our volunteers this year- Andrew, Eva, Renee, Adrian, Deb, Paul, Diana.
We now have broadband in the office.
Thanks to Robin Buckley who has been kept busy troubleshooting the office computer and technical matters concerning Broadband.

Byron Bay.
The Enviro-Information Kiosk ( Rotunda)
Co-ordinator: Marie Hayes.
12 volunteers this year.
Campaigns have included whaling, chemical sensitive register, animal lib, Sandhill Estate.
Assistance given to: The Wilderness Society, Houses On The Ground affordable housing forum, Streetcruise

MARKET STALL

Co-ordinator-Eddie and Marie Hayes. Marie and Eddie are winding down their commitment to the market. Andy has been holding the fort and there is some interest by others to maintain our position at the market, however we need to buy a new marquee as the old one is now cumbersome and needs regular repair.

FESTIVALS/ Events.
The Brunswick Valley Landcare ‘Nature Festival’. The BEC was one of the sponsors of the festival held at Shearwater and we helped co-ordinate their photographic competition.

Australia Day. John Lazarus, Terry Page and Marie Hayes helped to organize ‘The survival of Indigenous Culture’ in conjunction with BSC- an event held at Railway Park, Byron Bay and the Peace Festival- held in conjunction with the Byron Peace Group.

World Environment Day. The BEC held an open day and tree planting at the Cumbebin Wetland Sanctuary.

Clean Up Australia day. A clean up of the wetland surrounds, organised by Mark Parratt.

Rous water tour at Rocky Creek. BEC Members went on a tour of the damn and facilities and members were keen to express their concerns over the possible fluoridisation of the Shires water supply.

Pacific Highway Film Night. A well attended showing of locally produced Videos with accompanying talks on the Pacific highway issue. Organised by Nino MacDonald with food served by Sharon Curry.

Naidoc day. Dave Saunders.

BEC is involved in the organisation of the inaugural ‘Beggars Banquet’ to be held in Railway Park Dec 2 2006.

SUBMISSIONS.
The BEC wrote submissions in response to the following issues:
Pacific Highway route options for Ewingsdale-Tintenbar Pacific Highway upgrades.
Rezoning amendment 128 to the Byron LEP, allowing for proposed development at Main Arm.
Sandhill Estate. Terry Page, John Lazarus, Marie Hayes.

REPRESENTATION.
Indigenous Land Use Agreement, part 1 &2. The BEC is a party in the negotiations for the Arakwal native title claim.

Labour environment caucus Byron Bay - deposition by Mark Parratt mainly concerning the effects of climate change.

Ewingsdale-Tintenbar Pacific highway upgrade. The BEC was represented by Mathew Jamieson on the Community Liason Group.

Bird Buddies continue to function as a group but are now independent of The BEC. Represented on the committee by Dave Saunders.

The state of the environment report committee. Dave Saunders.

Byron Shire Council Solid Waste Management Committee. Represented by Sharon Curry.

Holiday Letting. The BEC was represented by Sandra Heilpern.

Sandhill Estate stakeholders committee. Represented by Dave Saunders and Terry Page.

Council Cultural committee. Doug Luke

Sustainable Agriculture round table. Geoff Dawe

RTA alliance group. Mark Parratt. Local environmental groups have been lobbying over concerns of polluting Marshalls creek and catchment by ongoing RTA Pacific Highway work breaching environmental standards.

Primitive camping permits. John Lazarus.

BSC workshop at West Byron STP on developing the Wetland. Nino MacDonald

Paterson hilltops reserve trust. Dave Saunders.

Brunswick River Catchment committee. Dave Saunders. Also ongoing with Tallow Creek committee- good things happening, especially with closure of South Byron Sewage treatment works this year, hope for a clean recreational and habitat area once again.

Railway. The Northern Rivers trains for the future group has been campaigning to get the train back on our rails. Paul Brecht was attending NRTF meetings.

PROJECTS

Cumbebin Wetland Sanctuary Trust

Co-ordinator: Sharon Curry.

Continuing monthly regen workdays with Geoff Dawe.

Inaugurated two timber benches for the boardwalk-built by Dave Saunders and Mark Parratt.
Repair of wetland totem pole wing yet to be reinstalled.

The BEC.
Editor: Nino MacDonald.
Our Environmental journal was published 3 times this year but is currently dormant, waiting for some energetic soul to take over the role of fundraising.

BEC handbook on sustainable living
For distribution in Byron Shire. Coordinated by Adrian Begg.
Project currently in abeyance due to lack of funding following rejection of BEC grant application to Environmental Trust. Alternative funding options to be sought.

Website.
Webmaster Adrian Begg.
Adrian has reactivated and redesigned the BEC web site with regular updates and new sections on current environmental news, climate change, and sustainable living.

Membership. 67. 

Committee. Stepping down this year:
Naval Pols- one of our longest standing Rainbow warriors.
Many thanks for your service.
Stepping Up: Renee Engl, Mark Parratt

Committe members
Convenor: Nino MacDonald. Secretary: Dave Saunders Alice Moffat. Treasurer: Sharon Curry. Public Officer: Marty Wade. Ordinary Committee members: John Lazarus, Terry Page, Robin Buckley, Mark Parratt, Renee Engl.

Click this link to read the BEC annual report for 2003-04
Click this link to read the BEC annual report for 2004-05