On Wednesday night, 11 June, I heard Byron Shire mayor Simon Richardson speak most convincingly at the West Byron meeting about the need for ‘due process’, ‘democratic process’, ‘community engagement’, and the need to inform community at the beginning of a process and not after the event.
I couldn’t agree with him more. But I wonder whether he and his fellow councillors are applying those same principles when it comes to the Proposed Holiday Letting Precincts Plan? Few residents seem to be aware that large sections of areas currently zoned residential are to become approved holiday letting precincts.
The time for the community to be fully informed is now, not later in the year as proposed by Council. Council should be publishing the maps of proposed holiday letting precincts so that residents of the Shire can see just how they will be affected and can then make informed decisions. That is true ‘democratic process’.
Louise Andrews, Byron Bay
For four decades The Echo has printed the stories some people loved, some people hated, and some pretended not to read. If you want us to keep telling the truth, the real truth, not the sugar-coated version. We’ll need your support to keep the presses rolling. 
