Byron Shire Mayor Michael Lyon has announced his running mates for the upcoming local government elections. Cr Lyon will again contest the mayoralty, with Dr Meredith Wray, Cr Mark Swivel and former Councillor Jeannette Martin in the group.
‘I am really proud to have served on Council for the last 8 years and value serving the community in the role of Mayor,’ Mayor Lyon said. ‘I have plenty left to give and following the floods of a couple of years ago there is still an awful lot to do, both in infrastructure and in housing.
‘The current Council has achieved a great deal in a short space of time, from holiday letting reform to the creation of a fit-for-the future housing strategy. We have managed to balance the books as well in what are trying times, and we have made some significant infrastructure upgrades as well, but there is plenty more to do,’ Mayor Lyon said.
Team members
Dr Meredith Wray is a long-time resident of Byron Bay and currently Co-Chair of the Byron Masterplan Guidance Group, and a Board Director of Destination North Coast and Northern Rivers Performing Arts (NORPA).
Dr Wray is experienced in best practice destination management planning, with a strong history of working with state and local governments as well as regional and local tourism organisations.
‘I am proud to join Michael, Mark and Jeannette as part of the Byron Independents Team and to contribute my expertise to inform good planning and decision-making,’ said Dr Wray.
‘Being elected as a councillor would be the capstone of my professional career where my passion and vision for best practice sustainable tourism can be applied and embedded within Council.
‘I am also looking forward to working collaboratively with other councillors if elected to the next term of Council.’
Swivel rides again
Mark Swivel is a current Byron Shire Councillor, President and player at Eureka Football Club and a director at Spaghetti Circus. He led the campaign to save Feros Village and is a strong Rail Trail advocate. Mark runs Barefoot Law and has won key cases in aged care, family law, mental health, small business and unfair dismissal.
‘I’m excited to be running with Michael, Meredith and Jeannette. We offer experienced, collaborative leadership for the whole of our community,’ he said. ‘Michael and I joined forces to save Feros Village and have shown we work well together to get results and negotiate solutions.
‘I think our team has what it takes to tell Byron Shire’s story to state government and deliver the basics for our residents’.
Community and environment
Jeannette Martin has lived in the Byron Shire for 20 years and has used her qualifications in community development and governance in to assist numerous local community organisations and projects.
She established the award-winning Mullumbimby Community Gardens and the charity, Mullum S.E.E.D, and is a passionate advocate for environmental outcomes in the Shire.
‘The Byron Independents are an experienced, strong team who know the challenges of working for the community on Council. I am confident that Michael, Meredith, Mark and I can be a very effective, collaborative force for our community in the next term,’ Ms Martin said.
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