On 19 April 2025, The Echo kindly published my concerns relating to the imposition of the new vibrancy laws.
The attendance of around 150 concerned local citizens and parents at the community centre in July 2025, indicated the depth of legitimate community concerns and the abject failure of genuine and transparent consultation on the proposed Special Entertainment Precinct (SEP).
These laws were purported to create a more vibrant and fun 24-hour night time economy, cut red tape and avoid regulatory duplication. They are also meant to ensure public and emergency worker safety.
I would suggest in reality, these befuddling, confusing, sugar-coated and lop-sided laws have more than doubled red tape and will cost all Council ratepayers dearly.
Last week, Byron Council approved the trial/adoption of a SEP.
I am a ratepayer in Byron for over 30 years. Based on my extensive research and experience regarding the chequered regulation of alcohol in NSW and, local community feedback, I respectfully encourage all councillors to reject any SEP trial.
The report is unreliable. It critically lacks objectivity, impartiality and coherency.
The proposed SEP saga including government and industry insistence, reminds me of Henry Lawson’s short story ‘The Loaded Dog’.
Our Council must get its own house in order before it traverses this yellow brick road for the wealthy liquor industry proponents.
Please don’t allow Byron to become regarded as ‘party central’, associated with the complete deregulation of the alcohol and gambling industry occurring elsewhere.
The first priority is urgent attention to reduce the current sustained and unacceptable rates of alcohol-fuelled violence and the related plethora of acute and chronic harms, by the adoption of proven evidence-based measures.
Secondly, complete the existing local business engagement initiatives.
Finally, ensure local community organisations receive the same level of support funding provided to licensed premises to increase vibrancy.
Regrettably, the real authors of the report who are difficult to identify, try hard to discredit and undermine the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR) and other academic and health/law corroborating research on alcohol harm prevention. By the same token, the report fails to inform councillors of the substantial documented critiques of the industry/government’s alcohol harm prevention schemes such as ‘purple flags’ (tick the box) and Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CEPTD).
What the SEP authors failed to disclose was that the NSW SEP guidelines encourage councils in determining late trading closing times and noise limits, not to be ‘conservative’ in increasing closing times and weakening noise controls.
I have become dismayed with the apparent obfuscation, promotion and support for these new partisan and divisive alcohol/planning laws.
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. 
