ONE OF OUR Voice of Byron regulars with a very long family history with Byron Bay, shares quite a list of negative experiences in the Bay and surrounding areas after her attempt to holiday in Byron last week.
She says, “Hey John… I didn’t want to say this openly because well…its negative..but I am wondering what the feedback is at the moment from others trying to holiday in Byron.
“We usually pay a premium to camp with the other families, but this year we all chose Lennox Head for the following reasons.
“We are very sad… New red No Parking signs have destroyed the culture of Byron.
“We couldn’t access Watego’s… the weekend weather was crap so we drove to Seven Mile, pulled over and parked, only to find numerous naked men rendering that beach unsuitable for the kids.
“And every car parked up on the roadside had a ticket.
“On Saturday night we tried to eat together. The Top Pub wouldn’t take the booking … they told us they no longer take bookings because people don’t turn up!
“On Sunday we went to the markets and ALL of our vehicles were booked – everybody there was being booked…
“So… we are the visitors with the cash to spend and we respect the environment.
“Can’t believe it…what can we do? Where’s the shuttle bus?”
Pretty sad really, however like so many others I have great memories when Byron was simply “The Bay” and feel so very fortunate to have experienced it all.
The new people have simply turned it into their Byron and bought their ideals from where they came with them, hence how it is now.
For me, to survive here and raise my children was an honor that I appreciated, however times change and the new people seem to want so much more from what was a little” Coastal Village”.
I wish them all well and sincerely hope their Byron Bay experiences will be as happy and rewarding as mine.
For those that have befriended myself and my family over the last 40 years, I wish you all well, and a safe and healthy New Year. Bob Beale
People destroy what they were initially seeking. It’s a toxic mix of greed and alcohol.
The current values of our society need a huge change back to compassion for other living things and respect for nature.
That’s what happened when they turned the Bay into Byron , shame really but they tell me that is “progress”