Our Policies and Priorities
How we want to govern
Co-operation and Respect – professionalism & collaboration across council, supporting staff. Community Consultation - monthly meets in Bangalow, Ocean Shores, Mullum, Federal, Byron. Masterplan Advisory Groups – build on Byron & Bangalow, start in Brunswick Heads & Ocean Shores. Talking with Macquarie Street – advocate to state government for mor
e investment in the Shire. Council accountability – supporting greater consistency, explanation, evidence-based decisions. Participatory Democracy – explore ways of involving more locals in council decision-making. How we will protect the environment
Coastal management – repair our beaches, push for approval of our Coastal Management Plan. Rewild the Big Scrub - turn back habitat destruction and grow back our forests. Recycle and Sustainability – enhance and green up our systems and supply chains. How we will create a prosperous community
New Agriculture – support our local farmers doing great things, assist with better tenure, market access. Energise Business – inspire small business, deliver jobs, grow entrepreneurialism across the shire. Sustainable Tourism - a managed approach to visitors, leverage tourism funds for local benefit. How we make homes for everyone
Equitable housing – more homes for essential workers, creatives, women, single mums, older locals; 90 day limit on STHL; support community land trusts to ‘disconnect’ from overheated market. Council Land Audit - earmark land for lower income housing and agricultural land trusts. Local Villages – promote long-term community driven planning for villages across the Shire. Lot 22 – evolve this model for CLTs, a key vehicle for more equitable housing solutions. How we will make our wonderful home even better
Public transport – develop electric buses network to get our people around the Shire. Better development – ‘be like Fitzroy’ - strict height limits, good design, keep ‘Byron’ look and feel. Open Up Rail Trail – for cycling, leisure and tourism, grow villages along the corridor. Whole of Destination Tourism - plans for each town and village, making tourism work for the locals. Byron for People not cars – phase in pedestrian CBDs over time, manage car parking better. How we will use ratepayers money and assets wisely
Better Balance Sheet - prudent management means putting money carefully to work. Participatory Budgeting - get informed input to financial decisions from the community. Industrial estates – explore how we can get more from key assets and better location of depots. Paid Parking – consistent approach, listening to community issues and measured introduction. How we will look after each other
Aged Care – help families solve ageing challenges to meet long term needs and provide jobs. Homelessness – emergency shelter facilities, learning from models in Lismore & Brisbane. Youth Advisory Council - get kids and young adults involved – 15 to 25 – cos it’s their future! How we will keep making Byron a better place
Indigenous Community – create an Arakwal Centre and an Uluru-style ‘Voice to Council’. Flagship projects – develop a Byron art gallery and film industry infrastructure. Less Litigation – so we ‘pick your fights’, mediate more and waste less rate-payer money. Our Story - articulate our Brand Byron to tell our stories better to each other and the world. We are listening … our policy platform will evolve as we listen to you through the campaign.
