Byron Shire Council has voted to spend $100,000 on coordinating Easter activities next year, despite unresolved questions about where the money will come from and growing concern over Council’s financial position.
The decision follows the cancellation of the Byron Bay Bluesfest just weeks before Easter this year, which prompted an eleventh-hour effort by Council, local businesses and community groups to organise an impromptu program of live music and events across the Shire.
Supported by a $95,000 NSW government grant, the Easter response included free bus services, traffic management, additional cleaning and a range of performances and activities at venues across Byron Bay, Brunswick Heads and other towns. The initiative was widely regarded as a success and drew strong community support.
At last week’s Council meeting, Mayor Sarah Ndiaye successfully argued that Council should invest in planning ahead for Easter 2027 while the future of large-scale festival events in the region remains uncertain.
‘We know that this area has a long history of music, of songs, of bringing people together,’ Cr Ndiaye told councillors.
‘We’ve seen Splendour in the Grass, Falls Festival, Bluesfest, Mullum Festival. We nearly lost the Writers Festival.’
Cr Ndiaye said the funding would act as seed money to help coordinate businesses, venues, tourism operators and government agencies, and potentially attract additional grant funding.
Where will the money come from?
However, the proposal exposed divisions around Council’s spending priorities at a time when it is forecasting budget deficits and considering a special rate variation (see page 2).
A key point of contention was where the $100,000 would come from.
Cr Ndiaye amended her motion to nominate paid parking revenue as the funding source, arguing that Easter visitation helped underpin parking income and broader economic activity.
Independent councillor Michael Lyon questioned that approach, saying paid parking revenue was already allocated under Council’s existing budget framework.
Council staff agreed, advising that any money redirected from parking revenue would require a corresponding reduction in other planned projects or works.
‘The consequence of that $100,000 will mean we’ll have to go back and revisit that, and take $100,000 worth of work out,’ staff told the meeting.
The exchange prompted Cr Ndiaye to acknowledge she may have misunderstood earlier advice regarding the availability of parking revenue.
Staff had also warned in the business papers that no funding source had been identified for the original proposal and that any additional expenditure would further worsen Council’s budget position. The report noted that Council is already forecasting a deficit of almost $490,000 in 2026-27.
Cr Lyon said he could not support the proposal while Council was grappling with its finances.
‘I can’t support this at the current time when we’re struggling for money and going to the rate rise situation,’ he said.
Deputy Mayor Jack Dods, who ultimately voted against, said he was ‘very reluctant’ to allocate additional money given Council’s financial challenges but believed this year’s Easter experience demonstrated the need for better planning.
‘I really understand how much good work was done this year, and how much was done on the fly, and the need to be able to replicate that,’ Cr Dods said.
The motion approved by councillors was scaled back from the original notice of motion, which had sought a total of $185,000 including funding for traffic control, street activations and additional cleaning. Instead, Council approved $100,000 for a temporary coordinator role to help organise Easter 2027 and pursue external funding opportunities.
The motion was carried 5-4, with councillors Ndiaye, Hauge, Lowe and Warth voting in favour, and councillors Lyon, Kay, Dods, Doherty and Swain voting against.
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