And you do the ‘Hokey Pokey’ and you shake it all about – Councillors Swivel and Hunter, in compliance with Council’s new Hokey Pokey Policy, both separately wrote to the NSW Government Minister opposing Council’s proposed 90-day holiday letting cap. But when it came to the Council vote on supporting the 90-day cap, Cr Hunter moved the motion in support of the cap and Cr Swivel also voted in support!
Despite both voting for the cap, Crs Hunter and Swivel’s previous letters of opposition to the 90-day cap are included as Items of Evidence before the new NSW Government Planning Panel (Attachments 13 &14), for consideration of the panel.
You do the Hokey Pokey and you turn around…
On the day of the Council vote on the 90-day cap, Cr Westheimer, (a holiday let premises owner) declared a conflict of interest and allegedly left the chambers; but the Minutes of the Motion state he actually voted on the motion – you put your Conflict of Interest in, you take it out – you do the Hokey Pokey…
Nevertheless, the state government’s Public Hearing on Holiday Lets may have a silver lining of getting a better result than the 90-day cap – i.e. no whole house holiday letting in residential zones, with the exception of Managed B&Bs and Managed Apartments subject to DAs.
Submissions open or register to speak from 16 January: www.ipcn.nsw.gov.au/projects/2022/12/byron-shire-short-term-rental-pp. Registration closes Friday 10 February 2023.
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. 
