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!!
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. 
