Byron Bay families and their local emergency services, should be sceptical of the spruiked virtues of new ‘vibrant’ 24-hour, night-time precincts (SMH 19/4/25).
These precincts entail increasing late-night trading hours of licensed premises (despite their compliance records) and other exemptions, heavily weighted in favour of the powerful alcohol lobby.
In 2022, a government-appointed committee chaired by Mark Latham MLC, trialled the removal of Newcastle’s modest life-saving alcohol harm reduction conditions.
The trial’s outcomes of reported increases in profits were lauded by the NSW government and industry. However, less well publicised were the earlier stern warnings from senior public health officials and police, and the subsequent 60 per cent increase in violence and the 100 per cent increase in drink driving offences arising from the Latham trial (https://tinyurl.com/t4cm7vj9).
Newcastle after midnight on Wednesdays and weekend nights is returning to a more dangerous, excessively noisy, lawless, and drunken place. Local residents are effectively locked out from any genuine say on matters likely to adversely impact on the safety and liveability of their neighbourhoods.
I recall the Byron community has been remarkably knowledgeable and resilient to protect its folks from alcohol-related harms and the misuse of power. I had the opportunity to assist the Byron community in 2013 and I trust the good, peaceful citizens of Byron aren’t mesmerised and misled by the same ‘vibrancy’ tune.
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. 
