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BYRON BAY might be one of Australia’s favourite holiday playgrounds but if its local council has its way, you’ll be paying more to stay there.
With infrastructure and amenities buckling under the weight of 1.9 million visitors a year, the 33,000 rate payers of Byron Bay are facing a proposed special rate rise between 33 and 60 per cent, the cost of which would passed on to tourists.
The proposal is to go before the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal after council voted for the rise.
In the face of resident revolt, Greens mayor Simon Richardson said a “bed tax” or “tourism tax” instead would provide vital new revenue for Council, which can barely keep up with the potholes, sewerage and rubbish generated by the constant stream of national and international visitors.
Both the NSW Government and Opposition have consistently knocked back pleas for a bed tax but Mr Richardson said he plans to lobby Tourism Minister Adam Marshall in coming weeks to reconsider the plan.
“Accommodation levies happen all around the world and can be a great source of revenue to go back into infrastructure,” he said.
The Byron Shire Council was forced to upgrade the sewer works at a cost of $4 million just to handle the extra load caused by tourists.
“We need to work with State Government where we can all thrive, but instead we are clamouring to get our potholes filled,” Mr Richardson said.
Labor Councillor Paul Spooner voted against the rate rise, but said landlords would pass on any rise anyway, meaning visitors will be slugged more to stay one way or another.