John Croke, Byron Bay
Wakey wakey, Simon Richardson – Byron residents are tired of tough talk and inaction from the council on vanpackers and housing affordability.
When you opened up the Butler Street carpark to free all-day parking you issued an open invitation to these freeloading vanpackers who park their vans there all day. There are a few who on occasion sleep in their vans and cars in and around the carpark. The council does not enforce the no parking between 1 and 5am rule except during holiday periods and even that’s rare.
It’s about time Council put forward a levy on the rates of properties rented through Airbnb and other sites like Stayz. You should also consider looking at local Facebook rental groups. There are no doubt some owners who regularly post on Facebook who don’t declare rental incomes and others who obviously illegally sub-let to fund their holidays to Bali without the owner’s or agent’s knowledge.
It’s time to pull your finger out, Simon; actions speak louder than words.
