Dear Falls Festival, when are you going to stop calling Yelgun, Byron Bay?
I’ve just had an airbnb enquiry from a really nice couple wanting to stay at my place at Suffolk Park.
I asked them if they realised that your festival was at Yelgun, which is a 30-minute car drive, with no traffic, from my place.
They were totally surprised, and very grateful for my honesty and help.
People that book accommodation in Byron Bay and jump in a cab to take them to the festival, abuse the poor taxi drivers when they keep driving and driving and driving and driving and then get hit with a $100+ cab ride.
You’re being so deceptive. How many towns do you have to pass through from Byron before you get to Yelgun? Let’s start calling Ballina south Byron, shall we? You’re blatantly lying to people, it’s shameful.
Angela McDermott, Suffolk Park
I wonder if your Suffolk park Airbnb has a reference to Byron. With so much of the shires rates expended on Byron bay, is it to much to ask that brand Byron share some of its wealth with the hinterland. After all, if it wasn’t for the culture and variety of the rest of the shire, Byron Bay would not have its unique identity. Surely it’s desirable to attract visitors to experience what the outlying areas have to offer. If you would disagree, perhaps we can change the name of the area to Mullumbimby Shire. Besides, last time I checked Tyagrah was not in Byron Bay, as its festival claims to be.
Hey Slim Pickings, my Suffolk Park Airbnb clearly states that it is in Suffolk Park … before I accept a booking I confirm that people realise that I am not in Byron Bay. I was referring to Falls Festival (and Splendour) being at Yelgun … I believe your reference to Tyagarah is to one of the other Shire festivals. As for your other points, I can’t see the relationship to my letter, and I am not responsible for how my rates are distributed across the shire. I am gathering you are in Mullumbimby – a truly beautiful town that I visit a number of times per week … everyone is friendly, there are smiles all around and perhaps my favourite town in The Shire.
The festival at Tyagrah is also promoted as being affiliated with Byron bay. A simple check of the website can confirm this.
The festivals at Yelgun run frequent buses which your guests can take advantage of.
Byron Bay is our most high profile destination and the gateway to visiting the rest of the shire. I don’t think it is misleading to to promote any of our shires festivals through the lens of ‘brand Byron’. Nor do I wish to elevate other towns in the shire to Byron Bay’s level of recognition as they do not have the range of accommodation or facilities that Byron enjoys. Some towns like Brunswick heads prefer a low key identity.
Good luck to all the festivals in Byron Shire as they bring much needed revenue to a wide variety of businesses in the area, even yours.
Angela, your Airbnb short term rental accommodation is a prohibited illegal activity in an R2 residential zone! Your are breaking the Planning laws of NSW and Byron Shire.