A report stating that the 60-day cap for non-hosted short term rental accommodation (STRA) in Byron Shire is ‘ineffective’ has been roundly criticised by the Byron Shire mayor, Victims of Holiday Letting (VOHL), and local STRA researcher, Dr Sabine Muschter, who was part of the research team looking at Airbnb impacts on small communities.

A rally organised by Mandy Nolan and Cr Cate Coorey on Christmas Eve in Byron Bay, saw hundreds gather in misty rain at Apex Park to oppose the NSW government’s backflip on Council’s push to cap short-term holiday accommodation to 90 days in some residential zones. 

A long-awaited Code of Conduct to regulate holiday letting has been released by the NSW government, which includes a mandatory premises register that the government...

Everyone has a bias – it’s a natural human condition. It’s always a surprise to hear a political actor complain that The Echo is biased. The issue is really about fairness, not bias. Let's take holiday letting, like on Airbnb as an example...

The unauthorised use of residential dwellings for tourism has been contentious in Byron Shire since 2003.

Legal action against illegal holiday let (including Airbnb) properties could again be pursued after Byron councillors voted unanimously at their March 23 meeting to lift the moratorium should the state government not respond with its own policy by July 1.

If you can do something to benefit yourself, should you? What if that thing you do to benefit yourself has long-term negative ramifications for others? What if your benefit is at the cost of others but this was never your intention? Are you still responsible?