Byron Shire Council: First Nations voice, housing on radar for first meeting of 2022
An electric car charging station that has become a pigeon portaloo is on the radar for Byron Shire’s new councillors as they push for a range of changes to the way the council operates.
Byron Shire
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Calls for a First Nations voice to be added to Byron Shire Council’s chambers will be among the matters up for discussion at the first meeting of the new term.
Eight notices of motion have been lodged by the newly elected council ahead of an extraordinary meeting which will be held on January 20.
All councillors will be sworn in and a deputy mayor is to be elected at the meeting.
Returning to the council this term are mayor Michael Lyon, Sarah Ndiaye, Alan Hunter and Cate Coorey.
Newcomers to the council will be Sama Balson, Duncan Dey, Asren Pugh, Mark Swivel and returning former councillor Peter Westheimer.
Here’s what the new cohort is set to discuss next week:
A First Nations voice to council
Mark Swivel has asked for consideration to be given to a First Nations voice to councils across NSW.
In his motion, Mr Swivel has proposed this would be “based on the vision in the Uluru Statement from the Heart”.
He has asked that the council submit a motion to this effect to the Local Government NSW Special Conference which runs in Sydney from February 28.
The council will be entitled to have three voting delegates at that conference.
In comments attached to his motion, Mr Swivel said the Uluru Statement From the Heart “sets out a clear vision for Indigenous Australia to play an active consultative and advisory role in our government”.
“Federal and State governments are yet to implement this transformative, inclusive innovation, perhaps because of the aspiration to change the federal constitution, a typically complex and contested process,” he said.
“However, there has been some movement on treaty proposals and negotiations especially at local government level.”
An Arakwal Memorandum of Understanding Advisory Committee already operates in the Byron Shire.
Mr Swivel said the Arakwal Aboriginal Corporation could inform how a voice to local government plays out in the shire.
“The First Nations Voice to Council could be consulted on all policies and decisions likely to affect the local Indigenous community,” Mr Swivel said.
“Councillors would need to consider the recommendations made by the voice to council and respond to questions raised.
“Membership of the voice to council could, for example, have three representatives from the local Indigenous community including representatives from the land council, Native Title holders and community members with professional expertise that could assist in analysing council proposals and projects.”
Channelling stamp duty into the local community
Mr Swivel wants the state government to consider “recycling” stamp duty and land tax revenue back into the areas they come from to help with the housing crisis.
He has asked for the council to submit a notice of motion to the Local Government NSW Special Conference to lobby the state government on this issue.
Mr Swivel’s motion has called for property sale revenue to be used in areas “experiencing house price inflation and homelessness, housing shortage and rental stress” as a way to “invest in new housing stock for essential workers, lower income and vulnerable members of the community”.
The motion asks for the process to be used “as a mechanism for equalising the social housing stock across the state so that local government areas that are behind the state average can catch up over the next decade”.
The council’s director of sustainable environment and economy, Shannon Burt, noted Mr Swivel’s motion was consistent with two 2021 resolutions of the council which sought state and federal support to help tackle the housing crisis.
Pigeon poo a problem for electric vehicles
Greens councillor Duncan Dey wants the council to reconfirm “its commitment to reducing carbon emissions” and to confirm “its support for electric vehicles over those driven by fossil fuels”.
Mr Dey wants to see issues at the council’s Mullumbimby charging station remedied by March this year.
Those issues include pigeon poo splattering electric vehicles due to pigeons roosting in the roof and rainwater falling on charging equipment.
He has asked for the council to receive a report in April detailing the resolution of those issues.
Housing, arts and culture
Returning Greens councillor Sarah Ndiaye will bring two housing-focused motions before the council.
Ms Ndiaye will ask for the council to convene a second housing summit for the shire and to create a Housing and Affordability Advisory Committee.
She wants to see the committee “provide advice, share relevant information, advocate for and help fast track progress on any affordable housing opportunities”.
The summit would involve consideration of policies and strategies to promote affordable housing.
“In 2016 a similar resolution was passed, and a very successful (summit) event was held exploring options to address our housing crisis,” she said in comments attached to the motion.
“From there many connections were made and opportunities explored, but our housing crisis has only worsened.
“Having another housing summit now, five years later, would give new councillors and community an opportunity to come up to speed on current projects, hear from industry professionals and help focus intensions for the new council so that we can land some necessary housing outcomes.”
Ms Ndiaye has also called for the council to host an arts and culture summit in a bid to “reinvigorate the local creative arts and industry” after a “challenging few years having to contend with Covid related instability”.
She has also proposed changes to three council committees.
Transparency and performance
Mr Swivel wants the council to bring a motion before the Local Government NSW Special Conference with a view to “enhance transparency and performance reporting”.
According to his motion, this would involve a “dashboard” tracking the council’s objectives which are identified in key planning documents.
He has also called for a tool to track “live issues” and projects between local councils and the state government, including project proposals and grant applications.
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