Thank you for working to keep COVID-19 controlled in the Byron Shire

Published on 17 April 2020

With the number of COVID-19 cases in the Byron Shire currently sitting at 16 the community is asked to continue to observe strict social distancing protocols to keep infection rates as low as possible.

Byron Shire Mayor, Simon Richardson, said now is not the time to take the foot off the accelerator in relation to COVID-19.

“The majority of our residents have taken on this challenge and have been doing all they can to observe the regulations that have been put in place by the NSW Government,” Mayor Richardson said.

“Our beaches are still open for exercise and that is fantastic so it is important, as we head into the weekend, that people continue to swim, surf, walk or run, but stay 1.5m apart and in groups of no more than two people,” he said.

“We can only get through this pandemic as a united community and we all have to work together and if we follow the guidelines set out by the NSW and Australian Governments the faster we will come out the other side,” Mayor Richardson said.

Council continues to provide a wide range of services although there have been some changes to the way we do business, including closing the office and meetings to the public, and this will continue for the short-term.

Byron Shire is also joining other local governments in NSW calling on the Australian and State Governments to acknowledge and provide financial assistance to Councils that are taking large financial hits as a result of COVID-19.

“While we are keeping things running as normally as possible, and this includes continuing with our roadwork works and construction programs, as well as other projects, there is no doubt there has been a major impact on our finances,” Mayor Richardson said.

“Like most Councils we run on a pretty lean budget and our budgeted and projected income simply isn’t there at the moment with next to no revenue coming from areas like pay parking and holiday parks.

“Council is a business so there will need to be some hard decisions and reprioritising of projects in the coming months to ensure we are able to maintain our standards and levels of service to everyone in our Shire,” Mayor Richardson said.

For media enquiries contact Annie Lewis, Media and Communications Coordinator, on 6626 7320.