Big-idea sessions
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 Ideasabout 2 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.
about 2 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.
about 2 years ago
Establish an overnight camper van, caravan and car parking area in Byron Shire with services and charge a small fee for use.
In Bangalow on Hinterland Way which used to be the old Pacific Highway between the turnoff to Granuaille Road and the roundabout connecting with Byron Bay Road and Bangalow Road is a 1.1 km long and around 100m wide stretch of road. This section of road has been transferred to the management of Byron Council once the Ewingsdale to Newrybar highway upgrade was completed. The section of Road is not used very much at all compared to Granuaille Road, Byron Bay Road or Bangalow Road and yet it has four lanes. This is a legacy of when it was the Pacific Highway.Byron Council should seriously consider realigning the existing road to the western or eastern boundary and reducing it to just one lane each way. This would create a huge amount of cleared vacant land already sealed with bitumen. Council could then develop this vacant land portion into a overnight campervan, caravan, van or car park with toilet and shower facilities, rubbish bins, gas BBQs and wifi. Council could charge $5 per night to park at the facility and use its services. There would be no camping in tents permitted. The area would have marked parking spaces and it would be for people camping in vehicles only. The area has the capacity to service possibly over one hundred spaces. Providing such a facility and service close to Byron but away from Residential areas would reduce the pressure from illegal camping throughout the Shire. It would also not compete with existing Holiday Parks which provide a totally different service. This Council facility would be unsupervised except for possible CCTV cameras similar to an RMS rest stop. Vehicles would pay at a boom gate when entering.
about 2 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.
about 2 years ago
Close down Tyagarah Airfield
1. Close down Tyagarah airfield. Stop wasting over $140,000 per year on maintenance and over $500,000 on capital improvements. Go forward with the Planning Proposal to reduce the minimum lot size to 1000m2. Then investigate other higher productive and income generating uses of the site such as High Technology Industry, Creative Industries, Affordable Housing , Food Industry etc. This will stop the many complaints from local residents about noise issues and provide a good source of income for the council. Ballina Airport, Lismore Airport, and Murwillumbah Airport have all indicated they have more have enough capacity to absorb users from Tyagarah. Skydive Byron Bay already operate from Ballina Airfield when Tyagarah airfield is closed in wet weather. If the airfield is closed and the council owned land is sub-divided completely the Council owned land at Tyagarah could yield over one hundred (100) 1000m2 lots. This could be a huge financial wind fall for the Council rather than the ongoing loss and trouble the current airfield continues to be.
