Hans Lovejoy

New South Wales

Editor at The Echo (Australia)

Editor of the independently owned Byron Shire Echo newspaper, musician and dad to Emily😁

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echo.net.au

Articles

Editorial - They work for them

1 week ago | echo.net.au | Hans Lovejoy

Residents around Chinbible Avenue near the Mullumbimby Showground are right to feel disappointed by Council. It’s reasonable to be anxious as your neighbour plans to double the density of your street, or block your solar access with their oversized housing development, for example. Developer Callum Sked now has approval to turn one large-lot Torrens title subdivision into seven, which paves the way for his large densely-packed proposal on flood-prone land.
Mullumbimby Road works update

1 week ago | echo.net.au | Hans Lovejoy

Further to last week’s story around The Saddle Road upgrades upsetting residents, The Echo asked Council staff for more details around the project. Those (The Saddle Road) roadworks were to facilitate traffic diversions for months of major Mullumbimby Road works, but are now on hold to allow more consultation. The Echo asked, ‘Have Council consulted with all residents affected by these upcoming roadworks prior to the last 14 days? How many residents are affected by these plans?
Council staff defend assisting wealthy developers around major road upgrades

1 week ago | echo.net.au | Hans Lovejoy

Senior Council planning staff have admitted to providing wealthy developers with an advantage around a contentious large 38-lot proposal near the main road into Mullum from Uncle Toms. Works around Mcauleys Lane on Mullumbimby Road are part of Council’s bigger plans to upgrade the entire road, which are set to disrupt around 13,000 daily vehicle movements.
A rare insight into emergency pod living

1 week ago | echo.net.au | Hans Lovejoy

Further to the April 9 story on the eviction of a 74-year-old man from the Bayside Brunswick Heads emergency pods, The Echo has been told he has been allowed to return until the June 27 eviction deadline. This comes as a great relief not only to Dirk Skelton*, but also the woman he cares for, who also resides at the pod village.
Mullum carpark housing units thrashed out in Council

1 week ago | echo.net.au | Hans Lovejoy

Independent Cr David Warth was the key voter at last week’s Council meeting, in favour of sending a letter to local Greens MP Tamara Smith, ‘requesting that she withdraw her sponsorship of a petition to NSW Parliament by the Mullumbimby Residents Group (MRA) and instead support Council’s efforts to build affordable housing’. Labor Cr Asren Pugh has taken issue with residents who are asking Council look for a different location for ‘affordable housing’ than a busy Mullum carpark.
Court conciliation for Sked v Council

2 weeks ago | echo.net.au | Hans Lovejoy

Residents are standing firm against plans by developer Callum Sked, who is proposing 25 tightly packed homes at 30 Chinbible Street, Mullumbimby, near the town’s showground and on low lying flood-prone land. With accusations by Sked that Council failed to determine the DA(s) within the statutory timeframe, he has taken the matter to court. Last Thursday saw conciliation onsite between Sked and Council, along with their lawyers, which is the first requirement of court proceedings.
Chaos as road upgrades roll out at The Saddle Road

2 weeks ago | echo.net.au | Hans Lovejoy

With up to six months of major road works about to begin for the busy road from Uncle Toms to Mullumbimby, it emerged at last week’s Council meeting that neighbouring The Saddle Road residents were not adequately informed of plans to temporarily divert around 5,000 vehicles per day past their homes. There are approximately 13,000 vehicles movements on Mullumbimby Road every day. Originally expected to take four months, Council’s website now says the work will start in May and finish in October.
Richmond meet the candidates - it’s a wrap!

2 weeks ago | echo.net.au | Hans Lovejoy

Nine federal candidates for the May 3 election fronted up at the Byron Theatre on Monday night to make their pitch to voters. Nationals candidate, Kimberley Hone, was unable to attend, owing to a family emergency.Moderator Mia Armitage and timekeeper Aslan Shand (from BayFM and Echo, respectively) kept the candidate’s replies within time limits.
Editiorial - Woot woot, grant me this

3 weeks ago | echo.net.au | Hans Lovejoy

With a sigh of relief, Bluesfest was a success. Yippie!And the weather was splendid (It’s been raining constantly otherwise for years, it seems). Director Peter Noble, his crew, and all the vollies again put on a great event – it’s not just the best music sourced from around the globe that makes it iconic, but putting on such an event requires highly tuned organisational skills. And lots of experience.
Labor councillor takes aim at residents over controversial development

3 weeks ago | echo.net.au | Hans Lovejoy

Labor councillor Asren Pugh has taken issue with the Mullumbimby Residents Association (MRA) questioning of Council plans to develop 32 units and a commercial shop on a busy carpark in the town’s CBD. He is asking councillors to reject their opposition at the upcoming April 27 meeting.