Missed our Byron Shire Meet the Candidates live community q and a forum? Don’t worry, we saved it for you.

Part One: campaign introductory speeches

Official NSW local government Election Day is on the 14th of September, which gives you plenty of time to catch up on some of what Byron’s candidates reckon they will and won’t do if they’re elected.

Bay FM has teamed up again with Echo Publications to bring you this chance to hear from those vying for your vote as they introduce their campaigns and answer questions from their diverse community.

Hear from all four 2024 Byron Shire Mayoral candidates, a fifth group leader and the shire’s only ungrouped candidate, as well as a few other candidates listed in groups.

Six candidates are given one minute each to answer questions from community representatives ranging from youth to business leaders, environmentalists and housing advocates.

Topics canvassed include E-bikes and other public transport options, short-term rental accommodation regulations, public land including the future of Byron’s Main Beach carpark, floodplain development, and permanent employment of a council ecologist and hydraulogist.

In Part One we hear from each of the six candidates on stage as they introduce their groups, where applicable, and campaigns. The Greens also chose to use their introductory speech time for other group members to speak.

Featuring (in order of speaking): Bay FM Community Newsroom EP Mia Armitage; Echo Publications co-editor Aslan Shand; Bright Future Byron group leader Jack Dods; ungrouped candidate Lucy Vader; The Greens group leader and mayoral candidate Sarah Ndiaye (incumbent councillor); The Greens candidate Elia Hague; The Greens candidate Michelle Lowe; The Greens candidate Nell Schofield; Labor group leader and mayoral candidate Asren Pugh (incumbent councillor); Byron Independents group leader and mayoral candidate Michael Lyon (incumbent mayor); Byron Shire Compass group leader David Warth.

Please note, this recording has been lightly edited to remove a small number of distracting sounds, references specific to the evening’s live event and some pauses. None of the candidates’ words have been edited.

PIC: Three of The Greens’ Byron Shire Council candidates for 2024 (L-R): Elia Hague; Michelle Lowe; Nell Schofield (Kate Payne) 

Thanks to: all Byron Shire Council 2024 candidates; everyone who submitted a question, especially those who came to present one; Bay FM volunteers Mia Armitage, Kate Payne, Michelle Michels, Anny Reed, Monet Shortland, Danny Salfield, Jazz, Mae Soper, Isolde Kopping, Denise Prentice, DJ Cruizy, Ange Kent, Paulette McCosker, Matt Day, the rest of the management committee, the program team, the rest of the station volunteers and book-keeper Rebecca; The Echo team, especially Aslan Shand, Hans Lovejoy, Simon Haslam, Paul Bibby, Anna, Jeff Dawson, Ziggi Browning; The Byron Theatre team, especially Jon, Kristina, Han, Jamie and Peta. Very special thanks to volunteer candidates coordinator Joanne Langton. Special thanks also to the Community Broadcasting Foundation, which continues to support Bay FM’s Community Newsroom, helping make this event possible.