C Cree, Ocean Shores.
Dear Mr Gainger,
I feel you are missing the current feel of all the ratepayers within the Byron Shire.
As more and more tourists are invading our beautiful Shire as well as weekend warriors coming down from Queensland every weekend I feel it is only fair that they pay for the up keep of our roads, parks, beaches, etc.
As a rate payer I feel we are getting less and less as we pay more and more. We have had our curb side clean up taken away from us – there are a number of elderly and disabled in this area who have to now hire or borrow (if we are lucky enough) a trailer, beg or pay for help to use the current system, which ends up costing us more! We all have to drive the local roads like we are drunk to miss the consistent potholes which only seem to be filled when there is an event on (Blues Festival, Falls Festival, etc.)! Thank heavens for the pothole fairy who saves a lot of us from more expense!!
So Mr Grainger, I would encourage you to rethink your stand on passing onto the tourists who visit this area and tourism industry the increase you are preparing to inflict on the rate payers of the Byron Shire! I know it is not just myself that feels strongly about this!!
Dear General Manager
Many of us ratepayers, Mr Gainger feel the economic pressure of rate rises and that intense pressure is considerable and has called me to write. I have just opened another bill from my letterbox. It was not a rate notice, but that notice is sure to come.
You as the General Manager of Byron Shire are doing something right and honourable as more tourists are coming and spending money in Byron Shire. An that creates profits.
The weekends are especially crowded and the crowds pour in down from Queensland and into this great Shire and I and others feel it is only fair that those tourists pay their fair share to keep the infrastructure in tip-top condition, so the roads, parks and beaches are clean and attractive for all of us to use.
The bill I just opened was my electricity bill and now as a rate payer I have to pay increased rates when I feel we are getting less for our rate dollar. That is my feeling as I count my bills that are unpaid. My kitchen bin is full and it needs to be taken out to the bin and the Council took our curb-side clean up away from us. Mr Gainger, there are a number of elderly and disabled people in this area who have to now hire or borrow a trailer, beg or pay for help to use the current system. The cost costs us more than before we changed the council.
We all have to drive the local roads jiggling the steering wheel to miss the huge number of potholes that only seem to get filled with tar when there is an event such as the Blues Festival or the Falls Festival.
Mr Gainger, would you rethink the Council rate break-up and pass more of the increase onto the tourists coming here and the tourism industry. We ratepayers live here, so just who loves this place the most, the ratepayers or tourists who go away after leaving it in such a state.
Say NO to any rate hikes
And let Councellors know that they will not be re-elected if they support any rate hikes.
Tax the tourists if you need more revenue.
Most would be happy to pay.
But not us over-taxed and under-served residents