Jan Barham’s family connection with our region goes back to the 1870s. She was educated in Wollongong and completed Fashion at East Sydney Technical College. After ten years in the Sydney fashion industry Jan moved to Byron Bay in 1989.

Here she became involved with local environment groups, Byron Environment Centre and BEACON. She was Tweed Byron Greens secretary 1993-94 and assistant secretary for The Greens NSW in 1994. Jan was the secretary of the Byron Shire Businesses for the Future for 4 years during which the group successfully challenged the Club Med approval for Byron Bay.

When Ian Cohen was elected to the Parliament in 1999 she was appointed as his adviser and researcher. She remained there part time until 2004. In 1999, Jan was elected to Byron Shire Council, became Deputy Mayor in 2003 and in 2004 became Australia's first popularly elected Green Mayor.

Richard Staples - Councillor, Byron Shire Council

Richard Staples has been on the Byron Shire Council since 1995 after successfully campaining against Club Med.

Active over the last ten years Richard has had significant on water and waste management policy as well as many other issues.

He is currently working with a broad range of community groups on trying to control the destructive development of a freeway through the shire.

Tom Tabart - Councillor, Byron Shire Council

Green's councillor Tom Tabart is a founding member of the Tweed Byron Greens circa 1993. Born in Sydney at a very early age he attended Manly Boy's High, RMC Duntroon, Royal Military College of Science UK and Swinburne University Melbourne.

Trained in killing, economics and environmental science he left the army in 1975 shortly after reading Rachel Carson's 'Silent Spring' and after never having had to actually kill anyone.

Worked in a number of areas ranging from car tuning to hospital logistics to environmental health before becoming unemployable on the North Coast in 1990 (with an attitude like that I wouldn't have employed him either).

Remaining a member of Tweed Greens after the mitosis he is a Byron councillor courtesy of having moved to Brunswick Heads from Burringbar a couple of years ago. Main hobbys are gentle letter writing, indoctrination of 10 YO granddaughter and standing for public office. Religion is Rugby Union.

Simon Richardson - Councillor, Byron Shire Council

Simon began his interest in politics while studying at university and spent his final year studying International Politics at Georgetown University in Washington D.C. He then spent the next 5-6 years involved in direct action including such campaigns as Irongates, Jubiluka, the Tarkine, Goolengook, Patterson Hill and the closest to his heart- Timbarra, protecting wild parts of Australia, fighting for those with no voices, and learning how local political power worked.

Through the Howard years he felt exasperated at the conservative electoral inertia and began to need to get active in other ways. He embarked on a five- year plan (leave, skill up, return): so he began to teach High School English, History, Media and Politics in Melbourne. He saw education as a chance to inspire the next generation so he cut his hair, got married, worked in the mainstream and after five years, moved back to Byron Shire to continue teaching and living a life to create change.

Simon has a strong interest in youth issues and believes that we need to communicate to our youth that we like them, that we want them here, and that we are listening. He sees the provision of such infrastructure as skate parks, drop-in centres, bike paths, and decent public transport as neccessary to seriously create a fertile and nourishing place for the next generation.

He also believes that this Shire should be a world leader in sustainability and that it should be a place where the land continues to be replenished and the ocean clean, where new, sustainable employment opportunities thrive, and where people can peacefully share: to gather, to dance, to surf, to learn, to celebrate, and here now, to talk. Simon lives in Federal with his wife Jane and teaches high school in Byron Bay.

Jeff Johnson - Councillor, Ballina Shire Council

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Cr Jeff Johnson represents 'B' Ward and was elected to Council in 2008. He is a business graduate from Southern Cross University and has worked in management and small business for a number of years.

Jeff stood for election because he believes it is important that Ballina Council is proactive as well as reactive in responding to the economic, environmental, cultural and social needs of the Shire. Addressing climate change, expanding our cycleway network, cleaning up the Richmond River and establishing a curbside green waste collection are some of the many issues he believes are important. Jeff is Ballina Council's representative on the North East Waste Forum (NEWF)and the Area Assistance Scheme Ranking Committee.

Jeff intends to work in partnership with other Councillors, as he believes mutual respect, teamwork and cooperation get better results than conflict and opposition.  Jeff supports in the principles of environmental sustainability, social justice, non-violence and grassroots participation in government and intends to uphold these principles in his decision making. He will work closely and cooperatively alongside local people and businesses in order to represent them on Council and achieve positive outcomes for Ballina Shire.

100 day report: Councillor Jeff Johnson
 
A lot has happened since the new Ballina Council was elected last September. Four general meetings, two extraordinary meetings, two conferences and about 15 workshops and briefings are just tip of the iceberg.
 
The general meetings generated a mixed bag of results but the balance is definitely positive. I’ve moved plenty of amendments – some were supported but some didn’t get a seconder which means the issue didn’t even get debated.
 
I brought six motions on notice and won unanimous support for five. The one that failed to get a seconder was about establishing a sustainable tourism taskforce. That’s quite puzzling, since tourism is a major component of our local economy. But I’ll keep working on it.
 
On the positive side I’ve got Council to report on a community-based program to replace throw-away plastic bags with reusable alternatives. Perhaps before the end of year we’ll be proudly announcing that Lennox Head is a plastic bag free village. A reduction in bag use by 50% Shire-side would also be a huge step forward.
 
Council is looking at banning bottled water from its own facilities and events and where possible providing free tap or filtered water eg through bubblers.
 
At November’s meeting I got three motions up, including – in my opinion – one that marks a historic moment. Council will be presented with a detailed report on energy reduction strategies currently being undertaken or investigated (including renewable technology options). Most significantly, it has made a commitment to becoming 'carbon neutral' as an organisation.
 
This move puts Ballina's energy consumption and the question of where that energy comes from at the centre of the organisation’s thoughts. For everything we now decide to do, we will have to consider the cost and source of the energy needed.
 
I hope we can become carbon neutral by 2015. Every year now we will be at least reducing our carbon footprint. The next stage will be aiming to make the entire Shire carbon neutral – that’s the ultimate goal.
 
I successfully proposed that Council lobby State and Federal ministers about introducing a container deposit scheme (“CDS”). All councillors found this a great idea because if introduced it would increase recycling rates and be financially beneficial to council who is the major recycling collector.
 
I called for an urgent workshop into the proposed Lennox Head to Ballina CBD commuter cycleway. This has been in the pipeline for over a decade and still hasn't got a completion date.
 
Anyone trying to ride between Lennox and East Ballina or the CBD knows how dangerous it is. This issue will be progressed during the year. I am confident a commuter cycleway can be built in the not too distant future.
 
May 2009 be a fun and safe year for you all. I look forward to working with the whole community to deliver positive social and environmental policy outcomes. Feel free to call or email me if you have any questions or issues you think Ballina Council should investigate.
 
Cr Jeff Johnson
0438677202
Ballina Shire Council