22.1 C
Byron Shire
March 28, 2024

Rates strike

Latest News

Man charged over domestic violence and pursuit offences – Tweed Heads

A man has been charged following a pursuit near Tweed Heads on Monday.

Other News

NORPA’s wild ride at Lismore Showgrounds

NORPA is taking audiences on an adventure outside the theatre once again, announcing it will stage its original work Wildskin in a warehouse space at the Lismore Showgrounds. A sensory, destination theatre experience, Wildskin inhabits an outrageous and unpredictable world that’s part bush-thriller, part road-trip and a whole lot of NORPA’s signature theatrical style.

New report highlights gaps in rural and remote health

The second annual Royal Flying Doctor Service ‘Best for the Bush, Rural and remote Health Base Line’ report has just been released. Presenting the latest data on the health of rural and remote Australians and evidence on service gaps, it identifies issues in urgent need of attention from service providers, funders, partners and policy makers.

The Picture House is turning 8

It feels like we were only just ringing in the new year days ago and here we are approaching Easter weekend at The Brunswick Picture House. It’s already been a whirlwind start to 2024 with their biggest and busiest program so far, bringing an eclectic mix of some of the hottest stand-up comedy, music gigs, film screenings and cabaret – and that was just last week!

Community grants on offer

Ingrained Foundation is running its fifth annual grants program, with a funding pool of $150,000.

Adaptive Surf Pro winds up in Byron

A week of mixed weather had seen almost 100 adaptive surfers take on the beaches of Byron Bay in the Byron first international adaptive surfing event to be held in Australia – the 2024 Australian Pro.

It’s a biggest little town festival! 

Supporters, performers, and volunteers gathered to launch the Mullum Laneways Festival 2024 last Friday. 

Matthew Lambourne, Mullumbimby

In a letter published in The Echo on August 7 this year I wrote ‘If Council is unable to understand public safety or the millions of dollars in damage to our cars every year, perhaps they will understand a rates strike’.

I have recently received a reminder notice for my unpaid August rates instalment, and would like you to explain why I should pay my rates when Council is unable or unwilling to maintain the roads that I depend on in a safe and fit-for-use condition.

I acknowledge that Council has been repairing potholes in places, but the work seems to be haphazard and random. For example, potholes have been repaired at both ends of Myocum Road, but a number of potholes in the middle, near the intersection with Possum Shoot Road and Kennedys Lane, have not been repaired and presumably won’t be until the next round of repairs, possibly in several months.

Similarly, potholes on much of Main Arm Road were repaired a week or two after residents painted them white, but that only went as far as the Palmwoods turnoff. Potholes at Upper Main Arm beyond that turnoff have not been repaired, and similarly I presume won’t be for several months.

We also have safety issues every year with Council’s failure to properly maintain roadside vegetation, allowing grass to grow up to 2m high right to the edge of the narrow bitumen road on bends and causeway approaches. despite Customer Requests, emails, phone calls and submissions to Council meetings.

It seems that if you live more than a certain distance from town you are treated as a second class ratepayer, but still of course expected to pay your rates on time.

Please explain why I should pay my rates when Council does not supply some of the services which these rates are supposed to cover, such as safe and fit-for-use roads.


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