A long-running street‑level support service for young people in Byron Bay will be phased out after 25 years of operation, following a review by Byron Shire Council (BSC).
But Council has promised to work with the Byron Youth Service (BYS) to develop an alternative youth program and to fund this project into the future.
The Byron Street Cruise program has been running since 2001, with youth workers from BYS providing outreach support to young people in Byron Bay’s town centre on Friday nights.
Impact, effectiveness, and long‑term sustainability
But late last year council engaged consultants Beacon Strategies to evaluate the program’s impact, effectiveness, and long‑term sustainability.
The review recommended that council move away from the current model, advising against maintaining or significantly expanding Street Cruise in its existing form.
With Council staff backing this recommendation, councillors voted last week to implement the proposed changes, which effectively puts an end to the street cruise program.
However, the Council has agreed to work with BYS to develop a replacement youth safety initiative. One option emerging from the review is a supervised ‘safe place’ where young people can gather on weekend nights rather than relying solely on street‑based outreach.
Council has also agreed to fund this project into the future, rather than requiring BYS to reapply for funding as had been originally proposed.
Maintaining strong, stable support
Mayor Sarah Ndiaye told the meeting it was critical that Council maintain strong, stable support for local youth services.
‘I think it is high time that we revised our approach to how we support the Youth Activities Centre (YAC),’ Cr Ndiaye said.
‘I have spoken to staff at the YAC, and they’re happy to go through this process.’
The Mayor said she backed a model that recognised the YAC as core youth infrastructure rather than leaving the service to continually compete for short‑term grants.
‘As someone who really values the work that is done by the youth service, and also considering that we have placed a major piece of infrastructure, the skate park, right next door to it, we have an ongoing obligation, really, to help support them,’ she said.
‘I don’t want them to have to spend a whole lot of energy every year, or every three years, having to make funding applications again. I’m happy for there to be funding requirements for them to report back, but I just didn’t feel comfortable with that.’
Street crews ‘rain, hail or shine’
Speaking via a statement read during public access, Christian Tancred from BYS said the Street Crews initiative had played a unique role in the Shire.
‘The Street Cruise program is unique and has filled a very specific need for young people and families in the Byron Shire for many years,’ he said.
He highlighted the contribution of volunteers and frontline workers who keep the program operating.
‘I acknowledge the many volunteers, casual staff, and behind the scenes individuals who have made their own contributions to the Street Crews program.
‘A very special mention goes to Deb Pearse, our most senior and experienced youth worker, and David Dalton, who is a specialist drug and alcohol worker, who have both been the mainstay of Street Crews in my time at BYS.
‘This pair have supported countless young people, rain, hail or shine, through the Street Crews program.’
Mr Tancred said the service accepted the findings of Council’s review and would continue collaborating on solutions, while warning key risks remain.
‘We accept the findings of the tabled report, and we will continue to work with our colleagues at BSC to find ways of collective impact.’
‘Our concern about the level of alcohol and drug use and related problems for young people in our community remains.’
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