Story by 9 News.
A PLAN by Byron Shire Council to tax pubs, restaurants and café owners for the use of balconies has Shire businesses up in arms.
Council’s proposed plan, dubbed an “air tax”, would slug business owners extra costs if they have a veranda or balcony.
Mullumbimby’s Middle Pub owner Brendan Lawless said the drastic changes would force him to pay over $21,000 a year for his historic pub’s balcony.
“I got a letter out of the blue and I have been in consultation with council … It’s been a pretty amazing situation,” he told the TODAY show.
“I’ve still had no correspondence really but at the moment I’m looking at $21,400 a year to hold this balcony in place which has been here since 1904.”
Mr Lawless said there were many places in the Byron Shire that would be affected by the tax.
He said the council advised him he would be charged $160 per square metre.
“In Byron it’s up to $500 a square metre.
“In Bangalow there’s even a Country Women’s Association that is on the list of potential targets,” Mr Lawless said.
Typical Australia, we are turning in to the land of the idiot. Laws like this will get in and people will pay it. We are governed over the pathetic and anything serious is too hard for our government
++this is so disgusting it can only be thought of by a money grabbing asshole, i almost thought it was april fools day.
The balconies and awnings provide shelter from sun and rain for the pedestrians, and mean that there is less maintenance needed for the footpaths. Maybe the businesses can charge the council for this service??!
This is a government gone mad.. Stark, raving mad.. it’s just absolute greed. How about if they cull the amount of needless councillors being paid absurd wages for doing absolutely stuff all. Revenue raising at is most ridiculous.