This year Council is working closely with police and the community to bring together a New Year to remember – for all the right reasons.Council met with Police to establish a management plan for New Year’s celebrations in Byron.

“Families need to feel safe if they’re coming into town for New Year’s and I’m glad I can say that it will be safe now,” Mayor Simon Richardson said.

“I’m grateful the NSW Police are coming to the party. We listened to calls for more vigilant policing and it was great to hear that they are just as committed as we are to avoiding a repeat of last year’s unruly behavior.”

“Police have said they’re committed to having more police on the ground, targeting trouble spots like Apex Park and Main Beach, working more closely with our rangers to put a lid on street drinking and illegal parking. They’ll also help ensure the transit lane in Shirley Street stays clear for buses and direct communication will be established between all major players of New Years; Soul Street, Park and Ride, First Sun, Rangers and Police.

“Our great community, including the Community Centre, Byron United, and other businesses and the Liquor Accord have all come on board to help provide family friendly entertainment and beautify the streets. These are important relationships and it’s great to see the community coming together in this way.” Mayor Simon Richardson said.

Inspector Greg Jago from Byron Bay Police said, “We don’t want to stop people from having a good time, we just want them to do it in a safe and responsible manner. Police will use all available resources and powers to achieve this goal.”

Mayor Simon Richardson concluded, “After the fall out from last year we listened to what the community had to say. We liaised more closely with Byron United and the business community, the Byron Community and Cultural Centre, local police, youth groups, Falls Festival and the public.

“We put together a summer safety committee and we implemented as much as we could from their ideas, but at the end of the day it just couldn’t work without the extra policing. They were the last piece of the puzzle we needed and I can now say, it’s safe to come into the Bay. This is a great thing, because I for one am really excited with the program we’ve come up with, which, along with the New Year’s Day  First Sun event, will be launched very shortly.”

Some of the Byron Bay New Years team bringing you Safe Summer in the Bay, director of Byron Youth Service, Di Marney, Byron Market director, Tess Cullen, Vice President Byron United & Evolution Concierge, Jodie Molloy, Byron Shire Council Community Policy Officer, Mayor Simon Richardson, chair Byron Liquor Accord, Hannah Spalding, CEO/Regional arts development officer, David Wood, creative producer Byron Community Centre Mouche Phillips, director Fall Festival Byron Bay, Brandon Saul, manager Byron Community Centre, Paul Spooner, Backpackers Group representative, James Robinson-Gale, Sgt Jack Keough, Tweed Byron Local Area Command.