Thank you, Garth and Sonya Brien, for your clear and insightful letter (Letters 19 October). You have worked to achieve success in your business, which is now threatened by Council’s short-term rental cap.
The short-term holiday rental issue has indeed driven a wedge in local community, much of this fuelled by misinformation and misunderstanding.
I have lived in the Byron Shire for 20 years, and ten years ago decided to rent a room in my house to supplement my part-time casual low-pay income. It was a success and I enjoyed meeting a variety of people, all of whom visited local cafes and shops thereby generating considerable local income. At times I moved out of my house and camped, enabling me to rent the whole house for a total of four months. Having this extra income meant I could support myself and my teenager without claiming government benefits.
The 90-day cap will reduce the capacity of many people like myself to supplement their low incomes and be able to pay high rates and other bills. The cap is not an effective way of increasing the number of long-term rental properties.
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. 
