Open letter to Ralph James, governance manager, Byron Shire Council.
A few months ago you explained to me the difficulties the Council (ie the community) would face prosecuting the blatant tourist resort operating at 57 to 61 Shirley St, Byron Bay. You explained that the Melbourne proprietors would argue that the law prohibits only a tourist facility. They would state that since there was no concierge or similar onsite this is not a tourist facility. You went on to say that clearly counsel for Council would argue that nowadays many styles of tourist facilities exist and this is clearly one.
On the other hand, I have suggested to Don Page that it is absurd for Byron Shire Council to be required to spend vast amounts of public money testing a definition in a courtroom when it would be a matter far more convenient and effective for him to deal with by amending the paragraph described by yourself as a mess.
For the benefit of myself and readers could you please reply to me including the problem paragraph and perhaps suggesting a redraft that we may put before our local MP. After all, legislation is his business. I have, if not every, at least some confidence in your ability to rewrite the text. Otherwise I will have a crack at it.
The days of people getting away with this garbage is over. Just like people getting away with dodgy tree removals.
Matthew Hartley, Byron Bay
