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
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.
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
Increase enforcement and compliance activities
1. While unauthorised dwellings or unauthorised dwelling additions are a difficult issue to bring into compliance all of those living in these dwellings are not paying rates and they are heavy users of roads and other infrastructure just like tourists. Council could avoid making specific issues of the unauthorised dwellings as evictions could create a large homeless problem. Council could however issue ongoing fines for illegal waste water treatment. Those fines could be charged on an ongoing basis until all sewerage systems are brought into compliance. This would avoid specifically targeting unauthorised dwellings but instead target the illegal environmental pollution or contribution to Byron STPs associated with the unauthorised dwellings. Council could at the same time encourage the owners to submit Development Applications for either a studio, secondary dwelling, dual occupancy, expanded dwelling or rural tourism accommodation. These options allow pathways for the unauthorised dwellings to be brought into compliance. They would also then contribute section 94 monies and would comply with wastewater requirements, bushfire requirements, flood requirements and the building code of Australia. The owners and residents of unauthorised dwellings should pay their fair share of rates and section 94 contributions as well. Council has records of all approvals for existing buildings on its system and files including complying development. A system could be implemented to systematically audit every property in the Shire. If the number of bedrooms, studios, dwellings, kitchens, laundries or toilets do match with the existing Council approvals under the Local Government Act and the Environmental Planning Assessment Act then they should be issued with on the spot fines under both acts and the Protection of Environmental Operations Act until the systems are brought into compliance. 2. I have been informed that Councils compliance team makes and annual loss if parking fines are not included. There are so many breaches of development conditions, unauthorised development, environmental risks and breaches of the Local Government Act that Council should be able to raise a large amount of revenue from fines alone. Council can issue fines under: The Roads Act, The Local Government Act, the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act and the Protection of Environmental Operations Act. Council should systematically audit every property in the Shire placing high priority properties first and should issue various fines, notices, orders and infringements under these four acts wherever and whenever breaches are identified. The compliance unit/team should be revenue positive not revenue negative. I understand that parking fines are the exception and that the revenue from parking fines exceeds the costs associated with compliance staff issuing them. When council compliance officers conduct an inspection, they should have copies of all approved plans and conditions under all four Acts and should check off any time there is non-compliance with any approvals.
over 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
Paid Parking
1. Introduce Paid parking in all Central areas of Mullumbimby, Suffolk Park, Bangalow and Brunswick Heads. 2. Introduce paid parking along all beach and river fronts heavily used by tourists including the beach front at Suffolk Park, Belongil, Sunrise, Broken Head, New Brighton, Tyagarah, South Golden Beach and the River front at Brunswick Heads, Ocean Shores. i.e get money from tourists 3. Introduce no parking signs in ALL residential, village, industrial and business zones across the Shire. All Byron Shire Ratepayers and residents would be given FREE exemptions for up to two vehicles per dwelling. All tourists (particularly those staying in Air BnB) and business operators would have to PAY for a daily, weekly, monthly or annual permit for their vehicles to park on the street in residential zones. This would mean ONLY those vehicles with a registered exemption would be able to park in the street in Byron Shire Residential, Village, Industrial and Business zones. This would cost nothing for existing residents and ratepayers, but it would raise money from tourists and businesses who are parking on our streets and nature strips. This scheme would run in tandem with paid parking across the shire. It would also keep vehicles off our streets and nature strips and would charge those people and businesses who have a large number of vehicles in excess of what they can park on their own property. Fees could be $10 per day, $50 per week, $150 per month or $1000 per year per vehicle. Fines would also be issued for any vehicle parking in these areas without a permit or exemption. This would be different than the paid parking areas as it would apply to residential and other areas that are not paid parking. It would be additional to paid parking areas. For dwellings with over two vehicles they would have to pay the fee for additional vehicles. This would create an incentive to keep less vehicles on the Shires Streets.
