ECHO BEACH
THE BYRON SHIRE
PAGE 25
Volume 28 #04 Tuesday, July 2, 2013 Phone 02 6684 1777 Fax 02 6684 1719 editor@echo.net.au adcopy@echo.net.au www.echo.net.au 23,200 copies every week CAB AUDIT North Coast news daily: www.echonetdaily.net.au
Inside Mandy Nolan waxes lyrical this – p23 week
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A I M E D AT T H E P E A S A N T S A N D R U L I N G C L A S S
Council gathered last week! Reported – p9
Refugee issue heats up – p11
Another coup in Canberra – p14
Mary Gardner dreams salt dreams – p15
OzGromOpen 2013 Byron Shire Council Notices Page 44
APN’s Ballina press to close
Busking all the way to Bluesfest 2014
Northern Star and Byron News publisher moves printing to QLD The worker said they were told that circulation had ‘taken a hit’ Rumours that APN News & Media and that the super site at Yandina, Limited Ballina press staff have re- Queensland, had a reduced workload ceived their notice were verified by from 400 tonne to 220 tonne a week. a reliable source last week. By comparison, The Echo’s 23,200 APN are moving the printing weekly copies equate to about 3.7 of the Northern Star, Byron News, tonne. Northern Rivers Echo, Ballina AdThere is apparently enough work vocate away from Ballina to their ex- to employ the 15 full-time and 20 isting plant in Yandina, Queensland. casual staff at the printer and while The Echo spoke to a staff member troubles in their print arm don’t who said that they had received no- directly relate to their media arm, tice on Tuesday June 18 requesting this closure further diminishes any they come to a meeting the follow- claim they had to be a multinational ing day, at which time they were providing local employment. given eight weeks’ notice. APN’s current share price is $0.25. Eve Jeffery
The Bluesfest Busking Comp is all about providing an opportunity for unsigned artists to showcase their talents. This year, Claire Anne Taylor was judged the winner (pictured front at the Treehouse Cafe), while Nick and Sam, pictured behind, were awarded the Grommet winners. Both acts will be given stage time at next year’s Bluesfest. Photo Jeff Dawson
Bold plans for holiday letting Hans Lovejoy
Realtor and Byron Shire councillor Rose Wanchap has proposed to increase security deposits to a maximum of $5,000 for holiday let homes in an attempt to address what she says is a ‘solution to the issue of unacceptable behaviour,’ by unruly visitors. It comes as Council last week agreed to initiate a holiday let forum, which will include members from HLO (Holiday Letting Organisation), ARAMANR (Australian Residential Accommodation
Management Association, northern rivers), Victims of Holiday Letting (VOHL), the real estate sector and the broader community. Cr Wanchap told The Echo that while there is ‘an excellent set of rules drawn up by the HLO called a code of conduct’, it is ‘clear that regulation of the Holiday Let industry in the Byron Shire is failing.’ ‘All the rules in the world mean nothing once alcohol comes into the picture, and it is obvious that it is not working if the number of complaints are any indication.
‘I propose that all managing agents impose a security deposit… of $800 per person, or a maximum of $5,000 per home. If the owners of these homes are concerned that this would lose them business, they can put up the bond themselves. This way the risk that they will behave is on their shoulders, not the community. I believe this will discourage the wrong type of holiday maker, while families will be happy to pay the deposit because they know they have very little risk of losing it. The code of conduct produced by HLO has all
the rules and regulations required to impose the loss of deposit if complaints are received. This would need to be agreed by all holiday letting agents so that no-one is disadvantaged. I would propose a 12-month trial to see if the industry can indeed self-regulate.’
No comment: HLO HLO spokesperson John Gudgeon told The Echo that his organisation and letting agents ‘welcomed the opportunity to engage with Byron Shire councillors and staff at a meet-
ing to discuss the issues raised relating to holiday letting on Thursday June 20.’ ‘It was recognised and accepted by all that a working group representing those present will be convened with the objective of examining the detail of all issues and options raised before any informed policy can be created. While this in process, HLO believes that it is not appropriate to comment or to react publicly to anecdotes quoted. All perspectives are well known and all will be on the table.’