Have your say on the future of Byron Bay foreshore
Published on 11 June 2024
The Byron Shire community is invited to have their say on the future of the Byron Bay foreshore throughout June and July.
Byron Shire Council’s Director Infrastructure Services, Phil Holloway, said that a concept plan has been developed for the iconic area, which is one of the community’s most beloved places and attracts a huge amount of visitors every year. It is also of great importance to traditional landowners.
The plan proposes a range of changes and upgrades across four main areas including the Main Beach carpark, Apex Park, Dening Park and Clarkes Beach. The community’s invited to view the concept plan and have a say via Council’s website until 31 July.
“The foreshore area is quite degraded now and has accessibility and emergency access issues, so this plan will guide gradual upgrades to the site over the next ten years,” Mr Holloway said.
“Feedback from the community will be used to determine the best uses for different parts of the site, and also guide the relocation of The Beach Café at Clarkes Beach so that it’s further back from the dune,” he said.
“Some of the ideas proposed are to remove the exeloos from Main Beach and build some much-needed and well-designed new toilet and shower facilities that can service this popular area into the future.
“One option for the community to consider is replacing the current ‘ocean view’ car park at Main Beach with green open space and a beautiful wide footpath promenade which will return the whole space to pedestrians and allow people to walk, roll or ride all the way from First Sun Caravan Park to the Lighthouse,” Mr Holloway said.
“To ensure there’s no net loss of car parking for the area, the plan proposes to use the existing car park behind the pool and build a multi-story carpark there – near the shops and tucked out of the way,” he said.
“However, we know that the ocean-view carpark is significant to the community, as well as generating significant income for Council, so there is also an option to keep it with a slight reduction in parking numbers to improve accessibility.”
“Council staff have looked at the Byron Bay Town Centre Masterplan and Main Beach Shoreline Project, as well as consulting with key stakeholders on the project, to develop a plan that reflects what everyone values,” Mr Holloway said.
“Now we want to hear from the wider community on what we’ve got right, what we’ve got wrong and whether there’s anything we’ve missed.”
“We’re hosting some information sessions at Apex Park and farmers market in June and the July Byron Community Market to talk about the plan and answer questions, and people can review the foreshore plan and provide feedback anytime online via Council’s website until the end of July,” he said.
Information sessions about the Byron Bay Foreshore Plan will be held as follows:
- Thursday 20 June – Byron Farmers Market (6.30am – 11am)
- Saturday 22 June – Byron Surf Club (9am – 12pm)
- Thursday 27 June – Byron Farmers Market (6.30am – 11am)
- Friday 28 June – Apex Park, Byron Bay (2.30pm – 5.30pm)
- Sunday 7 July – Byron Community Market (7am – 2pm).
If you can’t make it to a session, you can have your say on the project via Council’s website until 31 July 2024.