The Byron Shire Council budget meeting was very informative in the fact that Phil Holloway estimates the costs to fix up the failed stormwater system for Bayside Brunswick Heads to be close to $300million.
Interesting, as this is a Shire-wide issue, so just where is this money coming from?
We have a suggestion: we all appeal to the federal government to ask for a percentage of one per cent of funds collected to help with the multiple millions, or maybe billions, of dollars needed to make this major infrastructure fit for purpose.
How bad has this been allowed to get?
Our variations applied for by Byron Shire Council year in year out increased the rates we pay. Again, we are just shaking our heads at the variation in the extra rate base charge. This had been supposed to go straight towards infrastructure – as passed and supported back in 2016. Sorry, but I am still questioning how upfront Council is with the budget outlined in the meeting.
How on Earth is it not acceptable to ask for a moratorium on further development?
The only thing that can be said truly is ‘buyers beware’. Young families with outrageous mortgages.
Where is the support from local state and federal governments, prior to where we are today? It is not as if this has just happened. An ongoing issue over decades. Eight-plus years of trying to alert Council of just how serious the Bayside stormwater situation is.
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. 
