Our petition is doing its good work & key decision makers are listening. Those who are desperate to improve Byron's so called vibracy have commenced an opposing petition to counteract our key message to stop the SEP. The petition has gained just over 100 signatures in just a few days so if you can help share our petition to a few more supportive family, mates & collegues that would be awesome and so helpful.
Dr Blake Eddinton (pictured) Emergency Physician at the Byron Hospital Emergency Department led the 2013 hard fought campaign to limit alcohol in Byron after 12am "Last Drinks at 12". We can't let that good work be undone by an ill conceived SEP. Both Blake and I spoke on Local ABC Radio yesterday morning as did a local DJ / supporter of the counter argument petition.
The wording at the start of our petition is clear that we DO support well thought out and funded improvements to the Byron CBD which will benefit local artists and visitors between the hours of say 9am and 11pm. What we do not support is a SEP which facilitates more venues selling alcohol after 12am. Unfortunately, the SEP approval is so intertwined with conditions that if approved, then we cannot prevent more venues serving alcohol after 12am.
Lets keep pushing the decision makers for separate State funding to fix the issues we have in Byron Bay CBD right NOW and later when we have our house in order, have proven that we can manage the CBD better, then look at what else can be done to improve vibrancy between say 9am and 11pm.
NBN also did a story on the SEP last night and Blake and Rachael Calvert, a young local mother spoke strongly on the SEP issues. and community, health workers and first responder concerns. Unfortunately our Mayor Sarah spoke also and once again was spreading misinformation about a few State funded buses that will somehow manage to get hundreds of tired and/ or intoxicated young adults home to far away hinterland locations at 2/3/4am in the morning.
All those that live in the hinterland know thats a furphy. Lots of our young workers live in these far away places like say Upper Wilsons Creek because thats all they can afford. They like to be entertained and go out in Byron too and how do they get home safely? All they can do is drive whilst fatigued and be at risk of a major car accident on our sub-standard poorly maintained hinterland roads.
I have written to the Mayor on the SEP issue today in my capacity as a member of the Council's Transport and Infrastructure Advisory (Community) Committee or TIAC. I have clearly stated our case to have the SEP stopped based of road safety risk. We meet to discuss all matters TIAC on Thursday 18th September and hope to make sure the attending Councillors (Ndiaye, Dodds, Pugh and Hauge) fully understand what issues related to Road Safety and fatigue related trauma this SEP if approved will present to the young workers, the wider community and the Byron visitors.
I have also written today to the NRMA to ask if they would advocate on behalf of the community to the various NSW Ministers who are associated with this SEP decision. I hope to hear back shortly and will report back to our supporters.
We are also going out to various local School P&C committees to speak at their meetings and explain what all the issues are and gain support from the wider school communities. If you are in contact with your local school P&C, maybe you can advocate for support also for our petition. Many voices make us stronger.
Chris Hanley and other key community leaders are looking at organising a larger community gathering to better understand and hear all the pros and cons in the SEP debate. If this gathering goes ahead, we will advise further.
Til the next update, please keep sharing the petition as our work is not done as yet. The petition will stay live for some weeks yet right up until when Council votes on the SEP trial. 1000 plus signatures would be great at decision time. lets make that happen together.
Cheers,
Anthony
0411269755