Homelessness getting worse in Byron Shire, say frontline workers

The number of rough sleepers in Byron Shire has continued to increase, with the most recent count seeing an increase of 18 per cent.

Tamara Smith, Member for Ballina and NSW Greens spokesperson for Marine and Fisheries is today calling on the NSW Government to remove shark nets in NSW as they are an abject failure.

Please help me save the Mitchell's Rainforest snail and its primary habitat!

The critically endangered species, the Mitchell's Rainforest snail could be fatally impacted by the Butler Street Bypass in Byron Bay.

We are in an extinction crisis and have a responsibility to do everything we can to protect our biodiversity.

If you are as concerned about this as I am, please join me in writing to the Minister to voice your concerns.

Member for Ballina Tamara Smith MP today called on the Health Minister to urgently fund more nurses on night shift at Ballina Hospital.

Media Release

9 April 2019

Member for Ballina Tamara Smith has welcomed the decision by the Northern Regional Planning Panel (NRPP) to unanimously refuse the proposed West Byron development application to subdivide 9 lots into 282 residential lots at Ewingsdale Rd and Melaleuca Drive, Byron Bay.

"This is another great win for our community and people power,” said Ms Smith.

Media Release

5 April 2019

Defer the Byron Bay bypass

Member for Ballina Tamara Smith MP wants Byron Shire Council to defer their decision to construct the Byron Bay bypass and instead be part of a process to review options to address traffic congestion in the town.

“During the last four years I regularly heard community concerns regarding the Byron Bay bypass and more recently issues with the State government’s proposal for the Butler Street Transport Terminal,” said Ms Smith.

The Greens Member for Ballina Tamara Smith MP has announced legislation for Short Term Holiday Letting that would empower local councils to regulate the industry whilst protecting the rights of owner-occupiers. Under the plan, each local council would have the power to determine its own conditions and restrictions on holiday lets, but with a caveat. Resident homeowners, who holiday let their whole homes for less than a prescribed number of days per year, would be exempt from the need to submit development applications.

Photo: Sean O'Shea Art

Greens Member for Ballina Tamara Smith is calling for a 12-24 month halt on all new planning proposals for major developments as well as a pause on both the Butler Street bypass and the Transport NSW Bus station until the area’s infrastructure backlog is addressed and the community is properly consulted.

 “Like the Liberals did for the suburb of Ryde in 2018, I am calling for a pause on development applications in Byron for 12 - 24 months while we bring our infrastructure up to scratch,” said Ms Smith.

Media Release 11 February 2019

Greens Member for Ballina Tamara Smith MP says while she welcomes the NSW government’s decision to moderate its one-size-fits-all holiday letting legislation to give local councils greater leeway, there are still a lot of questions to be answered.

“Now that I’ve heard the Minister for Planning’s comments this morning I have some serious concerns,” said Ms Smith.

Media Release
11 February 2019

Greens Member for Ballina Tamara Smith MP has welcomed the decision by the NSW Government to reverse its one-size-fits-all holiday letting legislation which allows short term rental accommodation for up to 365 days per year in regional areas.

“This is great news for residents of Byron Shire and for Byron Bay who have been so dramatically affected by the large numbers of whole houses available for short term letting for long periods of the year, forcing long term renters out of Byron,” said Ms Smith.