Big-idea sessions
Consultation has concluded
Byron Shire residents are well known for thinking outside the box and community members, blue-sky thinkers and entrepreneurs are invited to join Councillors to brainstorm new revenue sources in a series of workshops on 8 and 9 March.
We've heard from many that pay parking is not the favoured option for raising additional funds to deliver Council services and upgrades. Many residents believe that pay parking should be the last option and that there are lots of other ways Council could raise funds.
So let's explore all options - now is our opportunity to sit down, brainstorm and see if there is a hidden gem of an idea out there that we haven't explored.
We've heard about the bed tax, tolls, lottery, and even our own currency.
So let's get together, thrash them out and see what we can come up with.
There may be short-term options and long-term ideas that would require legislative change or partnership with other levels of government. Nothing is off the table. We are committed to exploring all options.
Importantly these ideas will be fed into our Community Solutions Panel who will be tasked with coming up with recommendations around the question - what infrastructure spending should we prioritise and how should we fund these priorities if the rates alone are not enough?
The blue-sky idea sessions will be held at:
- Brunswick Picture House (8 March, 6pm-8:30pm)
- Mullumbimby Civic hall (9 March 10am-12:30pm)
- Byron Bay Community Centre (9 March 2pm-4pm)
RSVP to ourbyron@byron.nsw.gov.au
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We heard during discussions on Brunswick Heads and Bangalow
pay parking that there are other ways Council could raise funds.
Now is our opportunity share your ideas - let's see if there is
a hidden gem of an idea out there that we haven’t explored.
View All Ideasover 3 years ago
A Shire Wide Wifi network
Install a Shire Wide Wifi network with hot spots at all council buildings, bus stops, pay parking stations, public toilets, BBQ shelters and playgrounds. Allow free access to the wifi network but earn income from advertising which is a condition of free use of the network. Free wifi networks such as this occurs through all of Europe and north America and are often provided by Councils. It would also provide good data on visitor numbers to the shire as they would have to register to use the network. Users could opt to pay a fee and then have no advertising. Council could partner with an IT or communications company to roll out this network.
over 3 years ago
Charge a fee for use of different Council amenities by non-residents
Charge a fee for use of different Council amenities o Charge a fee for using all public toilets in Byron Shire. Fees are charged for public toilets throughout Europe and Asia. All local ratepayers and Residents would be issued a free key chain (or card) that when swiped at the smart toilets let then be used for free. Convert all public toilets to smart toilets throughout the shire. i.e make tourists pay for services. o Charge for the use of Gas BBQs in Byron Parks. At the moment they are free. Use the same system as that proposed for Public toilets i.e smart BBQs. Let residents swipe their key chain (or card) for free usage but make non-residents pay. o I am not really a huge fan of the following idea but it could also earn revenue for the Shire from Tourists and visitors. Install childproof fences around Council playgrounds in high use tourist areas. Not only will this improve child safety but Council could also charge a daily family charge to use the playgrounds. Once again residents would have free usage by swiping their keychain or card but tourists and visitors would have to pay. Advertisers know the power of pester power and no matter what children will still want to play on the parks and if the parents have to pay a small fee of say $5 per day for the whole family they will still pay. Have smart systems installed on the gates into the playgrounds Tourist and visitors would be given the choice of paying say $2 per use of the toilets, BBQs and playgrounds. They could also pay for an all day pass, say $5. A weekly pass, say $25. A monthly pass, say $80. Or a yearly pass say $500. They could pay using an app or at a self service kiosk. Mobile App technology has improved so much that once the fee is paid visitors would only need to wave there mobile phone near the toilet, BBQ or Playground to activate it. This fee for service system could be integrated with other ideas which could all work on the same technology and mobile application.
over 3 years ago
Allow owners of RU1 & R5 zoned properties to either: -subdivide all or part of their land -build additional, family size homes on their land
Allow owners of RU1 and R5 zoned properties to either: a)subdivide all or part of their land thus increasing the number of rate payers, or b)build additional, rentable, family size dwellings on their land and charge additional rates based on number of additional dwellings Many of the RU1 zoned land is no longer being used for it's purpose of "primary production". Why not give these land owners the opportunity to free up their land for family housing. Obviously this would need to be done in a well managed and controlled manner. Many R5 zoned properties are close to facilites and nestled within or on the fringe of Residential zones. This land is good for subdividing into medium or low density residential.
over 3 years ago
Privatise access roads in and out of our four towns/villages
Apply to RMS and the NSW Government to privatise the two roads into Byron, the two roads into Brunswick, the four roads into Ocean Shores/South Golden Beach, the three roads into Mullumbimby and the three roads into Bangalow. Install automatic toll gates over these 11 entrances. Charge all visitors to use the roads with a daily fee using GOVIA or other existing Tool Road systems. Residents and ratepayers would have free use of the roads for up to two vehicles per dwelling with the license plates of the vehicles registered as exempt. Also allows visitors to pay a weekly, monthly or annual fee. If a car passes straight through a town in and out within say 30mins then they would not be charged at all as they were clearly just passing through. Fees could be $10 per day, $50 per week, $150 per month or $1000 per year per vehicle. Fines would be issued automatically if toll was not paid. Just like fines and tolls are charged on the Gateway Bridge in Brisbane or other toll roads. If dwellings have more than two vehicles they would have to pay the fee for additional vehicles. This would also be an incentive to not have as many vehicles on Byron Roads.
over 3 years ago
Electric Vehicle charging and rental (cars, mopeds and bicycles)
Establish a network of electric car and electric bicycle parking/recharging stations throughout the Shire. People could ride their electric bicycles from village to village and recharge at each location. People could do the same with their electric cars. Perhaps install such charging stations in Council carparks. If combined with a good bicycle network and with the Council mobile app listed in another idea the council could raise funds from charging electric bikes and cars and even renting them out. Even better would be if council partnered with a bicycle hire or electric car hire business/ car share business from the private sector. Such a partnership could manage a fleet of electrical bicycle sharing and electric car sharing across the Shire. It could become a condition of future Development Consent throughout the Shire for multi-dwelling housing, housing under the affordable housing SEPP and commercial developments that the Development include an easement for Council to operate am electric bicycle / electric car parking/ charging station.
