Jim Rogers, Byron Bay
Leaving nationalities aside, the bottom line on Doof Parties in the Arakwal National Park is that it is illegal to organise, run or attend such a party.
Organisers can be fined up to $15,000 and have equipment confiscated and attendees can be fined $3,300.
If you light a fire, especially during a Summer Total Fire Ban then that is a fine of $5,000 (and that includes twirling fire sticks) and up to 15 years in jail if the fire gets out of control and causes major damage.
That’s before even taking lack of public liability insurance cover into account.
The National Park is owned and run by the local indigenous people and this is totally disrespectful to them as well as local residents who are angry but also in despair over the constant parties and the trashing of the Environment that occurs and which they then have to clean up after.
Residents feel blessed to have a National Park fringing the town and beach.
Unfortunately many people seem to come here with the wrong attitude and seem to think Byron Bay is a free and easy place where you can do as you like without consequence. We all need to let visitors know that this is not the case.
It was interesting to hear on the news that the infamous Spanish resort and party islands of Ibiza and Majorca have just imposed an Environmental Tax on tourists and put a cap on their numbers. Maybe we need to do the same thing here!
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. 
