[INSERT WITTY PITHY PHRASE HERE] The Byron Shire Echo • Volume 38 #01 • June 14, 2023 • www.echo.net.au
Byron businesses under pressure Paul Bibby Sky-high commercial rents, staff shortages produced by the housing crisis, and the broader economic downturn have placed an unsustainable burden on dozens of local businesses in Byron Bay. As the town experiences a quieter than usual off-season, multiple local businesses have been forced to either close or relocate, leaving a growing number of shop fronts empty. It has raised concerns that only large corporate chains will be able to afford to set up shop in the town in the future, which could change the face of the town permanently. ‘A lot of true local businesses are struggling to make ends meet,’ the President of the Byron Bay Chamber of Commerce, Jason Bentley, told The Echo. ‘There’s multiple factors – rents, interest rate hikes, rising costs, staffing issues… it’s a trend that’s likely to continue’. ‘Rents are definitely a factor. Quite a few commercial property owners are bringing leases up to market value when they come up for renewal. ‘A number of businesses in the old Woolies car park are looking for new spots, and it’s double the rent they’ve been paying to get a new lease. ‘I think you’re going to see a changing landscape where you’re seeing bigger international brands moving downtown, because they’re the ones who can afford to lease space there.’
‘Richmond for Yes’ campaign launches ▶ p4
The Echo is aware of at least a dozen local operations that have closed or relocated in recent months. These include well-known longstanding businesses such as the Byron Fresh restaurant, and the Stoked surf fashion shop, both on Jonson Street, and Craig Parry Photography. Mr Parry told The Echo that high rents were a key contributing factor in his decision to move on, and that he was considering Lennox Head and the Byron Arts and Industry Estate as possible new locations. ‘We’ve realised that we don’t need to be in the middle of Byron Bay anymore,’ Mr Parry said. ‘We don’t need to spend $110,000 every year in rent for a spot in the Bay. We can do half that for a good spot somewhere else and that’s fine.’ Mr Parry said that another factor affecting his business was the rollercoaster ride the region had experienced after COVID-19. ‘Covid was actually an exceptional boom time for us, and for many businesses in the town,’ he said. ‘The government was handing out money, tourism rates were up because no one could travel overseas, and so everyone was coming to Byron with money to spend.’ ‘Then the floods came, and that was obviously a big blow. We’ve come out of that and thought “this summer is going to be great”, but then we had high interest rates, which really affected the retail market and everyone in the town ▶ Continued on page 4
Home needed for new Byron Men’s Shed ▶ p5
Beaut Bruns bargains Brunswick Heads was buzzing on Saturday, with thousands of visitors at the Old & Gold Festival. The glorious sunny winter’s day couldn’t have been tailor made any finer, with the strains of music and happy bargain hunters filling the town’s streets. Matilda, Clover and Pomski Angel had fun at the Ye Olde Church Fair. Photo Tree Faerie
m ! Ɛş ŔëƆƆĶưĕōƷ ſĕĎƖĈĕ şǔĕſƆ şŕ ſĕƐſşȒ ǕƐƆǽ IJşƖƆĕ ſëĶƆĶŕī ëŕĎ ćƖƷćëĈŊƆǼ l Four Northern Rivers mayors and two state MPs were briefed by the CEOs of the Reconstruction Authority and the Northern Rivers Reconstruction Corporation (NRRC) on Tuesday around the delivery of the Resilient Homes Program. The program, which came with much public fanfare when announced last year, is aimed at helping those affected by the 2022 floods to retrofit their homes, to raise their homes from future floods, or to receive a buyback offer. Local Ballina MP, Tamara Smith (Greens), says she was shocked to learn that most people who applied under the scheme will
Richard Jones on why Philip Lowe needs to go ▶ p10
‘Under the data modelling the NRRC has used, in line with current state government policy for flood management, almost nobody in the Ballina electorate will see any money. ‘Less than 400 retrofits have been approved across the entire Northern Rivers.
‘It was very disappointing to be briefed about what will be devastating news for thousands and thousands of applicants, just a few hours before the data modelling is released. ‘Applicants will know whether they are in the majority of those who miss out by 30 June.’ She adds the mayors and MPs will write to Premier Minns to urgently call for his commitment to the second tranche of funding this year, as well as an expansion of the policy approach so that more people can get a package. The Echo contacted the NRRC for comment prior to publication.
Great local business by the scoopful! ▶ p18
Amusements abound in Seven entertainment ▶ p22
not be getting any support. She told The Echo, ‘The briefing was to explain the data analysis for deciding that of the 7,000 or so floodaffected people who applied for the Resilient Homes Program, less than 2,000 will receive a package’.
Most not getting support