AVAILABLE FOR BOTH PHOTOGRAPH AND INTERVIEW OPPORTUNITIES The Byron Shire Echo • Volume 37 #47 • May 3, 2023 • www.echo.net.au
Education campaign underpins Council’s new leg rope policy
Steps taken to support vital rescue service
Paul Bibby
The much anticipated report by the NSW Independent Planning Commission (IPC) into Council’s planning proposal around holiday letting was released last week, with commissioners recommending a 60-day yearly cap on non-hosted holiday letting across the Shire, instead of Council’s 90-day proposal. And Council’s proposed precinct
model, which would allow nonhosted short-term rental accommodation (STRA) all year round in highly sought after visitor locations, was unsupported, and could be scrapped if the NSW Labor government adopts the findings. And while a holiday letting levy is proposed (Recommendation 8), which could provide Council with an income stream to address severe infrastructure backlogs,
details around compliance and enforcement (page 65) were vague, with the commissioners suggesting that the STRA Code of Conduct be strengthened and ‘improved’. Additionally, a development application (DA) process is proposed, which would see Council the consent authority for ‘non-hosted STRA use in exceedance of the proposed [60-day] cap’. The Echo asked NSW Minister
for Planning and Public Spaces, Paul Scully (Labor), when he will announce his support, or otherwise, for the 12 recommendations. He told The Echo, ‘I’ll review the report in detail over the coming weeks. We recognise maintaining the function and character of places people live is important, while maintaining the appeal for visitors. I will consider the findings in this context’. ▶ Continued on page 4
If a law is never enforced, is it still a law? This is a key question raised by Byron Council’s new regulation requiring surfers at local beaches to wear leg ropes. In a development that had mainstream media frothing like groms in a cyclone last week, Byron Shire Council decided to erect signs warning surfers that they could be fined unless they are properly tethered to their boards. Under the rules, surfers could theoretically face a fine of up to $1,100 if they don’t rope up. However, the reality is that such a policy, while sending a message to surfers about the need to be safe in the waves, is virtually impossible to enforce. Putting aside the fact that the rules won’t come into force until signs are erected during the next financial year, there remains no practical way to enforce them, and bring about a successful prosecution if the matter is challenged in court. ‘Given the comments in the staff report about the effectiveness of the signage and our inability to enforce it, I’m wondering if this is a good use of money, given our difficult circumstances,’ Mayor Michael Lyon said. ‘We’re putting a new burden on the budget next year that is already under pressure, and putting a greater burden on our already very busy compliance officers. ‘I don’t think this should be a priority at all for compliance staff. I want to make sure our compliance ▶ Continued on page 3
Margaret’s flood tales part of Blue Box project ▶ p5
Heilpern on growth, housing rights and the golden egg ▶ p10
Looking at both sides of domestic violence ▶ p12
Call for moratorium on floodplain developments ▶ p20
How will you treat your mum this Mothers Day? ▶ p26
The Byron Coastal Charity Walk, which celebrated its ten year anniversary last weekend, supports the vital work by the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service (WRHS). Organisers say more than 850 completed either a 12, 24 or 36 kilometre route along the region’s picturesque coastline.
The WRHS was established in 1975, and through community support and fundraising, it has become a critical service that delivers aeromedical search, rescue, and inter-hospital transfers. There are four AW139 helicopters that operate from three bases in Belmont, Tamworth and Lismore. Photo Jeff ‘Strolling Ahead Of The Pack’ Dawson
IPC’s holiday letting report in – how will NSW Labor respond? Hans Lovejoy
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