Voice of Byron

BYRON SHIRE’S 2017-18 operational and capital works budget remains firmly focused on fixing roads and infrastructure.  Out of the total budget, $54 million will be spent on capital works and roads programs; this includes the Byron Bay town centre bypass at an estimated cost of $20 million.

The total revenue raised from General Rates will increase by 7.5 per cent (including the approved rate peg increase of 1.5%), as per the Special Rate Variation approved by the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal in May this year. Due to a redistribution of the rating burden between Residential, Business and Farmland rating categories the impact on the average residential household in 2017-18, will be about $38 or an increase of  3.34%

There are no increases to water, sewerage, waste and stormwater charges in 2017-18.

In the first year, the special rate variation will raise an additional $1.185 million which will be spent on infrastructure renewal and maintenance works.  Projects supported by the SRV with include Broken Head Road, Station Street (Bangalow), Pine Avenue (Mullumbimby), The Terrace (Brunswick Head) with additional funding for rural and urban drainage and swimming pool maintenance and renewal projects.

Byron Shire Mayor Simon Richardson said in listening to residents over a third of the budget would be spent of capital projects and roads infrastructure, plus the $20 million Byron Bay Bypass.

“Our residents have long been telling us that renewing our infrastructure, needs to remain our priority.

“Last year we increased our commitment to capital works with strong progress made on road renewals and reseals.

“Our 2017-18 program is part of our Fit for the Future plan and is a key contributor to leading our Council back to a position of financial sustainability,” he said.

Residential, farmland and business rates will account for just over 21 per cent of 2016/17 budget revenue, with a similar amount of revenue being forecast to come in from grants and contributions.  

The remaining revenues are estimated to be generated from fees, user charges and new sources of revenue including property development and rationalisation.

The rate for pay parking will also increase from $3 to $4 per hour and capped at $12 for four hours.  All day parking at Butler Street Reserve will remain at $20. 

Key 2017/18 capital highlights with the draft budget include:

• Byron Bay town centre bypass – $19,812,000
• Bayshore and Ewingsdale Roundabout – $4,300,000
• Bridge renewals and upgrade (rural north and rural south) -$2,560,000
• Cycleways – Byron Bay, Ocean Shores, Bangalow, Suffolk Park- $1,243,300
• Broken Head Road renewal – $1,191,600
• Bangalow Road renewal, Hayters Hill – $650,000
• Pine Avenue renewal, Mullumbimby (Garden to Riverside) – $610,000
• Open space and recreation upgrades – $568,400
• Byron Bay Master Plan – Railway Precinct Activation – $500,000
• Rifle Range Road intersection upgrade at Lismore Road – $441,200
• Footpaths, kerb and gutter – $410,900
• The Terrace renewal, Brunswick Heads – $379,400
• Shire wide drainage works – $374,000
• Tyagarah Airfield subdivision works – $300,000
• Resource Recovery Centre upgraded expansion – $200,000
• Regional road repair program – Broken Head Road pavement – $298,500
• Paterson Street reseal, Byron Bay – $260,000
• Byron Street, Byron Bay, (Jonson to railway corridor)- $200,000
• Lighthouse Road renewal, Byron (Massinger to Tallow Beach Rd) – $147,700
• Public place bin network infrastructure upgrade, north of Shire – $35,000

As part of its budget deliberations, Council adopted our community strategic plan and supporting delivery and operational plans based around the key themes of corporate management, economy, society and culture, environment and community infrastructure. 

In the coming months Council will be commencing a major review of the plan to articulate our vision for the next 10 years and how Council will achieve this.