BYRON SHIRE Council mayoral candidate Paul Spooner has called on the Federal Government to develop a north coast regional plan to address the growing employment and economic issues facing the region.
Deputy Mayor Spooner put his proposal to federal MP Stephen Jones while holding discussions on Sunday in Byron Bay with business representatives from the food, education and tourism industries.
Stephen Jones MP is the Shadow Minister for Regional Services, Territories and Local Government and Shadow Minister for Regional Communications.
“Councils across the North Coast need to be working together to ensure that employment opportunities are being created. Too many local people cannot find work in the region. With housing costs rising across the region many locals are facing a crisis,” Cr Spooner said.
Cr. Spooner’s plan would mean that Councils on the North Coast partner with local industries and education providers to identify the region’s needs and strengths in regards to sustainable industries and employment.
Cr Spooner said: “A regional plan would provide certainty for investment and confidence for businesses to establish in the region.”
One project considered by the roundtable as worthy of consideration was the Northern Rivers Rail Trail.
Stephen Jones said: “I fully back Paul Spooner’s plan to bring the issues of the North Coast into clear focus of the Federal Government. Local government cannot ensure good outcomes for its residents and ratepayers without the support of state and federal governments.”
“Paul understands the needs and solutions required for the Byron Shire and will work with both state and federal governments to deliver sensible outcomes for the region.”
Paul,
Byron is a bubble and we forget the State and Federal funding programs that no one seems to understand how to network and apply for. I was going to vote for you given your comments on applying for more state and government spending for community programs, however I just read your six policies, and realised you may not have the connections and experience to approach the right departments both on State and Federal Government. Every mayor should not be dependant on rate payers to correct its development muck ups or potential development also.
OK, why have you not listed these issues in your top six:
Education and Schools in the Byron Shire
Early Childhood Programs for all children including those in high risk and lower socio economic positions
Health care programs: Not for Profit Funding on State and Federal Government levels. Programs focusing on Early intervention programs for families and carers of both children, youth services not restricted to and including Mental Health, Drug and Alcohol Programs of which we lack terribly in our shire. The money is out there, but no one seems to no how to achieve this.
Homelessness, poverty and peoples rights to Social Services
Affordable housing (many great success stories in Victoria which I could share with you)
Community programs for those wanting to re enter the work force.
This is COMMUNITY. Yes the council certainly needs to look after the transparency without doubt, but the Council needs to address issues such as obtaining money for all the areas above, instead of living in a bubble depending on parking fees and rates for income.
Lets get Education, Health, Employment, Housing, MH and AOD issues/ services on the table instead of constantly talking about tourism and railways as a vision and future direction. This is community, and social justice and equality for all.
I work in the accommodation industry and are very switched on as I net work myself on many levels, including as a Mental Health, Drug and Alcohol Clinician and Counsellor, Have MBA in Management, hence have started up varies networks already in Byron since being back for 3 years. Byron is in real trouble looking inwards rather than outwards for funding, especially as you noted State and Federal Government Levels. I am a member of all Chamber of Commerce’s possible, Destination Byron and then the other side of Byron Shire Mental Health Professionals Network.
It can be done, however it takes courage and vision to almost leave ‘tourism and consequently problems and unhappy residents’ as a scape goat. Lets look after the community but have the strength to get out of Byron and get support and funding.
Paul obviously has no idea re Byrons needs if he supports a rail trail. Attracting more and more tourists without the infrastructure to support them will only lead to the overdevelopment of the shire. For something so expensive that will only be used by a few, a rail service or a system similar to The Byron Line would be a much more worthy investment of local funds
Well, after reading the above, all I can say is that Paul has not listened at all to the valid reasons for our train service to be reinstated. I also say the same about the other Crs who voted recently for the bike track instead of an all encompassing rail advantage. Jillian Spring