Protect our Surfing Culture

Byron Greens

November 23, 2021

The Byron Green’s will preserve Byron’s surfing culture! The Byron Greens have been a part of Byron’s surfing culture going back to our founding in 1993.

Whether you were born here, moved here during the alternative hey-days of the 1970s or a more recent arrival Byron’s surf culture is part of what makes Byron special.

Byron Greens candidate, former MLC and Broken Head resident, Ian Cohen has been surfing around Byron since the early 70s. Who can forget the iconic image of Ian surfing the bow of a US navy warship in Sydney Harbor in 1986.

Byron Greens will:

  • Seek to provide more parking at Byron’s surf breaks from South Golden Beach to Broken Head where constraints can be managed.
  • Provide free parking permits to Byron Shire residents for Council controlled car parks.
  • Review beach parking at South Golden Beach, New Brighton, Brunswick Heads, Sunrise, Byron Bay, Suffolk Park and Broken Head to provide more 4 hour parking and paid parking for non-residents.
  • Ensure Byron locals are still able to attend their local break and be able to find a park and not have to pay for it.
  • Seek to expand the surf camera coverage of all popular Byron Shire beach breaks.
  • Support Byron’s existing surf schools to keep operating safely through the tough COVID times.
  • Make sure all our beaches have adequate rubbish bins, showers, toilets and amenities to serve the higher usage rates that we are now experiencing.
  • Support further upgrades of beach access and the lighthouse walking track.
  • Create further disability access to our beaches to support our disabled surfers.
  • Support programs to teach Byron surfing etiquette to our tourist and visitors and our up and coming young surfers.
  • Support employing a surf marshal at the Pass during peak holiday periods
  • Continue to support the Surf Life Saving Association and Lifeguards on popular beaches and better engage with our board riding associations and surf clubs.
  • Strengthen shark safety with extended drone surveillance and tag and release monitoring.
  • Support defibrillator emergency access on all beaches.
  • Investigate beach mini-bus shuttles during peak use periods with the capacity to carry on surf boards.

Only the Byron greens are fully committed to preserving Byron’s surf culture. A vote for the Byron Greens is a vote for continued surfing access across the Shire.

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