Beloved songstress Sara Tindley will grace The Byron at Byron Resort on Mothers’ Day.

Anybody who caught Packed to the Rafters this month, East of Everything or the Bondi Rescue series’ will already be familiar with Sara’s music, which combines the emotional honesty and storytelling of country music with the unadorned melodies and musicality of Australian roots and folk.

“I love Mothers Day” said Sara. “It’s such a deep, intense and kind of comical gig being a Mum. There is true joy in watching and guiding your children through all their stages. It’s the toughest and most beautiful job of all. Mothers’ Day at The Byron at Byron is a real treat. To eat delicious food in a relaxed setting, glass of bubbly in hand, listing to live music is a lovely way to honour the hard and often undervalued work Mums do”.

Of Sara’s most recent album Time, The Australian’s Iain Shedden said “A beautifully stripped-down affair, with subtle instrumentation leaving the intoxicating, melancholy tone of the songwriter to shine through. That voice sits somewhere between Lucinda Wiliams brighter moods, and the sweeter, fragile beauty of Natalie Merchant.”

Sara has performed at major festivals including Blues Fest, Splendour in the Grass, Gympie Muster and Tamworth.

Mothers’ Day lunch with Sara Tindley in The Byron at Byron’s stunning rainforest restaurant.
12.30pm Sunday 13th May.
$65 per person including entree and main course from Head Chef Gavin Hughes, a flower for mum on arrival and a glass of sparkling wine.
Children (up to 12 years) may dine from the childrens’ menu.
Bookings are essential, please contact 6639 2111 or restaurant@thebyronatbyron.com.au

Following a comprehensive planning assessment process the North Byron Parklands site at Yelgun in the Byron Shire has been given the green light.

Today the Planning and Assessment Commission (PAC) announced approval for the venue, saying “the Commission agrees with the Director-General of the Department of Planning’s assessment that the proposal will provide Byron Shire with a permanent cultural events site attracting visitors to the area and generating much needed employment, as well as providing environmental benefits arising from revegetation”.

Changes to the approval recommended by the NSW Department of Planning are as follows:

• Outdoor events are approved for a trial period of five years up to the end of 2017.
• Outdoor events following the trial period will require a further approval from Byron Council under Part 4 of the EP&A Act.
• Three events per year will be permitted during the trial period.
• Up to a maximum of 10 event days will be permitted each year during the trial.
• No event must exceed 4 event days.
• The five year trial period allows for incremental growth in patron numbers:

Mat Morris, General Manager of North Byron Parklands, on the approved site

“It has been a long journey, we are pleased to finally gain approval” said Mat Morris, General Manager for North Byron Parklands. “Our proposal has been updated on various occasions throughout the assessment process, so we encourage people to go to our website at www.northbyronparklands.com and view the final approved plan.

“63% of the site is out of bounds, set aside for nature either as protected existing vegetation or new habitat areas. The overall land holding is 258.71 hectares, and of that only 93.29 hectares will be used for events, including parking and camping. Therefore we will only ever use up to 37% of the site for event purposes”.

The approval means the permanent return of Splendour in the Grass to the Byron Shire. The festival will be held at Belongil Fields this year and at North Byron Parklands from 2013.

“It’s great to be bringing Splendour back permanently to Byron where the festival began” said Jessica Ducrou, Co-Producer of Splendour.

“Events give people reason to travel, so the decision to approve North Byron Parklands is a smart one for tourism in this state” said Russell Mills, CEO of Northern Rivers Tourism. “We thank the many thousands of supporters of North Byron Parklands and Splendour as this approval will bring enormous social, environmental and economic benefits to the Northern Rivers”.

The approval heralds the commencement of the much anticipated North Byron Parklands Community Grants Fund.

For further information including interviews and images please contact Caroline Desmond  02 66875674  0415 499429 caroline@carolinedesmond.com.au

Please direct any enquiries about Splendour In The Grass 2012 or 2013 to:
Gabe Cramb 0419 798 995  gabe@scrabble.net.au

delicious. Magazine and The Byron at Byron Resort and Spa are thrilled to announce that top chef Martin Boetz of Longrain Sydney and Melbourne will headline the first delicious. weekend away for 2012.

Boetz promises to bring energy and colour to Byron for the three day food and wine celebration, being held over the long weekend 8 – 11 June.

Born in Germany, his passion for cooking was nurtured by some of the world’s greatest Chefs, including David Thompson (who now owns London’s Michelin starred Nahm) at Darley Street Thai and Sailors Thai.

Martin joins Bangalow based pastry Chef extraordinaire Katrina Kanetani from hatted restaurant Town (formerly of The Pier and MG Garage Sydney, Asiate New York and Quo Vadis London), delicious. Food Director Valli Little and The Byron at Byron’s own Gavin Hughes (formerly of Aqua Luna, The Bathers Pavilion and Aqua Dining Sydney, Inverlochy Castle Hotel and 1 Devonshire GardensScotland).

“There are lots of passionate producers growing fabulous Thai ingredients in the Byron region” said Boetz, “including turmeric, galangal and betel leaves that we use at Longrain and will celebrate over the course of the weekend”.

The weekend includes a cooking class with the delicious. maestro herself Valli Little, lunch at award winning Newrybar restaurant Harvest, a visit to local farmers’ markets and a producers’ farm and a gala four course dinner at The Byron at Byron Restaurant.

Guests will stay in the luxe Byron at Byron Resort and Spa where they can unwind with yoga or spend time by the infinity pool.

Friday 8 June
Welcome party on the Byron at Byron Resort and Spa lawn featuring local producer stalls, canapés and wines from Tempus Two.

Two course dinner in the Byron at Byron Restaurant featuring local produce.

Saturday 9 June
Visit Bangalow Farmers’ Market and The Farm Gate Providore
Lunch at Harvest in Newrybar
Long Table Gala Four Course Dinner featuring Martin Boetz (Longrain), Katrina Kanetani (Town), Valli Little (delicious.), Gavin Hughes (The Byron at Byron) with wines by McGuigan, Nepenthe and Tempus Two.

Sunday 10 June
Yoga on the pool deck
Morning Cooking Class with Valli Little and Martin Boetz presented by Nestle Plaistowe
Long lunch featuring the cooking class menu at The Byron at Byron Restaurant

Cocktail hour canapé demonstration with sunset drinks

Monday 11 June
Poolside pop-up brunch by Byron café The Top Shop
Demonstration by local coffee roaster

Delicious Weekend package
$1119 per person twin share in a Standard Suite (upgrade to Deluxe Spa Suite $1179)
$1591 per person single share in a Standard Suite (upgrade to Deluxe Spa Suite $1648)

reservations@thebyronatbyron.com.au
1300 554 362 or +61 (0)2 6639 2000

Information night brings hope for Richmond Tweed.

An information night is being held on Thursday May 3rd to help local people understand how they may own a home of their own. On offer are the results of research into changing home needs and strategies that make ownership affordable and tailored to this region.  All are welcome.

Australian industry leaders have come together as the Future Housing Taskforce to bring back The Great Australian Dream of home ownership. The Taskforce set a new industry record for enquiries when they built an eco friendly affordable home in a warehouse to demonstrate how councils were so out of touch with the real needs of the Australian public. The Smarter Small Home was profiled on A Current Affair (smartersmallhome.com.au).

Future Housing Task Force founder Kevin Doodney, who will be the main speaker at the information night, has been working with 16 Councils to help bring home ownership closer to ordinary Australians.

“The Future Housing Taskforce is responding to a media story by Peter Weekes of January 24, which put Richmond Tweed as the highest land value in Australia” said Kevin Doodney. “This makes the region the most unaffordable in the whole nation, puttingmassive pressure on new families being able to live and work in the region without renting for life. On the night we are not there to just talk, we are there to deliver immediate solutions that are up to $130,000 cheaper than what is currently on offer. We are spending these weeks leading up to May 3rd focusing on ideas which end up in the delivery back to people of home ownership at various price points, instead of the current one size fits all scenario”.

The information night will show new approaches to housing that suit changing buyer needs from work at home to single households. Kevin will explain how different income levels can access home ownership and the types of homes to suit their budgets. He will also profile some flexible housing options including dual key and duplex.

“Kevin Doodney’s achievements and innovative concepts are world class.” High praise from Peter Sherrie, National President of the Urban Development Institute of Australia.
The event is proudly sponsored by Tallowood Ridge Estate in Mullumbimby, who are offering generous incentives with land from $195,000.

7:00pm Thursday 3rd May, Mullumbimby Civic Hall
MC (the divine) Mandy Nolan, food and coffee available from Cafe Xpress
$5 entry fee, which goes to Mullumbimby Youth Cottage. Kids free and welcome.
For more information about the night contact 6687 1492 or johnbennettcedar@gmail.com