Byron Shire Council is issuing a ‘buyer beware’ notice following reports of unlicensed surf schools operating in the shire.
The Council says it has received complaints about surf schools being run without the necessary approvals.
“Council and the NSW Government manage what happens on the beach and in the water off the coast,” said Council’s Acting Director, Infrastructure Services, Malcolm Robertson.
“Council’s role is to help manage what happens on the beach itself in different parts of the Shire and part of Council’s job includes licensing businesses like surf schools that make money from using it.
“A surf school licence is a way of saying that a company has permission to use part of the public beach to run its business.
“The licensing system exists for everyone’s sake. It gives surf school customers confidence that an operator is safe rather than dodgy and gives businesses that do the right thing a competitive advantage.
“It helps limit the number of commercial businesses using the beach so that there’s plenty of space for recreation and the fees surf schools pay for their licence are used by Council to provide public services for the whole community.
“In every industry, there’s always a temptation to cut corners to make money but surf school customers can reduce this incentive by only using a licensed school.
“Using a school that does the right thing helps make the most of our amazing beaches and ocean. And that’s good for everyone,” he said.
The list of Byron Bay surf school operators with a current licence are:
- Soul Surfing School Pty Ltd.
- Byron Bay Surf School Pty Ltd.
- Let’s Go Surfing.
- Blackdog Surfing Pty Ltd.
- Style Surfing School Byron Bay.
- Rusty Miller Personalised Surfing Byron Bay.
