Council seeks special rate | Northern Rivers News | Local News in Northern Rivers

Byron Council is to seek a special rate variation of 0.8 per cent to fund a $1.58 million loan to help cover the cost of the planned Byron Regional Sporting and Cultural Complex in Ewingsdale Road, Byron Bay.

Staff have been asked to develop a variation application to be submitted to the State Government.

At the same extraordinary meeting last Wednesday, the council also authorised the general manager, Graeme Faulkner, to push ahead with designs for the complex.

The project, which has attracted $9 million in Federal Government grants, almost fell over late last year after new figures were released which put the cost of the complex at $23 million, well over the projected $14 million.

However, at an extraordinary meeting before Christmas and after a plea from Olympic running legend, Herb Elliott, councillors voted to go ahead with a revised $16 million project.

The council is still awaiting confirmation that it can take up the Federal Government grants beyond the deadline set.

Byron Mayor Cr Jan Barham said she was still 100 per cent behind the project and ‘can’t wait until we start moving those sods around’.