Illegal Byron hostel operator gets fined

The Byron Shire Council says its win against the operator of an illegal backpacker hostel will send a message to others.

Last Friday in the Byron Bay Local Court, Shai Major was fined $75,000 and ordered to pay $22,000 for the council's legal costs.

Nineteen people were found staying at a house with inadequate toilet facilities and no smoke alarms or fire-safety equipment.

The council's manager of governance, Ralph James, says the case shows the council is serious about cracking down on unlawful and unsafe accommodation.

"The last thing we want to see in Byron Shire is a Childers-type backpacker fire, where we lose any number of people... that would be tragic," he said.

"It sends a message to people who want to set themselves up to run relatively cheap accommodation without getting the right approvals from council that we will come after you."

Source: ABC News, 23 July 2012