Something to Talk About is our community magazine designed to share stories and news from around the Byron Shire.
Over the last 12 months we’ve tackled some of the biggest issues facing our community and a mixture of our openness to new ideas and innovation, as well as sheer persistence, has seen our hard work pay off.
The NSW Government has heeded our request for reform of short-term rental accommodation (STRA) in parts of the Shire. From 23 September, a 60-day annual cap will apply to all unhosted STRA in the Shire, with the exception of parts of Byron Bay and Brunswick Heads. It’s a first for NSW.
We have delivered upgrades to:
- The Strand Avenue at New Brighton
- River Terrace in Mullumbimby
- Left Bank Road in the hinterland
- Main Arm Road
- Carlyle Street and Wordsworth Street in Byron Bay.
We resealed streets in Brunswick Heads and began planning for improvements to South Beach Road and surrounding areas in preparation for the implementation of pay parking.
Further to this, we have also resolved to remove the yearly resident permit fee of $55, as I firmly believe locals should not have to pay to park in their own towns.
Two and half years on from the floods and some roads and infrastructure, especially in the hinterland, remain in a terrible state. Council is working closely with Transport for NSW and the Reconstruction Authority, pushing as hard as we can, to get our flood funding applications approved, mindful of the enormous strain on residents.
We supported a trial of an assertive outreach program to help those experiencing homelessness in our community and never has this been more important with the NSW Government recently releasing data showing the Byron Shire has the highest rate of homelessness in NSW. These vulnerable members of our community deserve so much more than what is currently available, and we continue to advocate, on their behalf, for improved Government services.
Ultimately, the key to improvement here, and to alleviate the broader housing crisis, will be housing supply. Council has finalised the residential strategy after many years, and I am very confident that we have done what is required to ensure improvement in the housing space over the medium term.
- $37.02 million - major work and construction
- $13.93 million - buildings and pools
- $17.82 million - sewerage operations
- $20.8- recycling and waste services
- $14.65 million - maintenance of roads, bridges, footpaths and drains
- $13.7 million - water operations
- $15.96 million - parks, sports fields, beaches and bush regeneration
- $10.69 million - natural environment, planning and development
- $8.15 million - community services, libraries, childcare
- $4.76 million - administration and governance
- $3.96 million - enforcement and environmental health
- $1.26 million - emergency services
In 2024/25 for every $100 spent we will invest in:
- $6 - natural environment, planning and development
- $10 - parks, sports fields, beaches and bush regeneration
- $9 - maintaining roads, bridges, footpaths and drains
- $23 - major works and construction including flood recovery
- $13 - recycling and waste services
- $8 - water operations
- $11 - sewer operations
- $9 - buildings and pools
- $5 - community services, libraries and childcare
- $3 - administration and governance
- $2 - enforcement and environmental health
- $1 - emergency services
Help and information about your rates
Did you know that teabags are not supposed to go in your green bin?
In 2022, the EPA banned some additional items from the green organics bin collection that you might have missed.
See below for a quick recap on common items that should go in your green organics bin, along with new items added to the list (in red) that are not allowed in your green bin.
Council is consulting with the community on a concept plan for the future of the Byron Bay foreshore area.
The concept plan puts a number of options for upgrade on the table for the Main Beach carpark, Apex Park, Dening Park and Clarkes Beach foreshore park.
The consultation closes on 31 July 2024.
See Council's Your Say page for information or to have a say.
Council hosted its first Furry Friends Festival on Saturday 15 June and it was a sunny success with hundreds of pet owners and dogs on leads dropping in to enjoy the morning's festivities.
"We had 25 fantastic exhibitors on the Bangalow Showground oval and there were loads of freebies and giveaways, free face painting, a photo booth and a photo competition which was a big hit.
"Thanks to everyone who came along - it was such a great way to meet the other pet owners and their beautiful pets and for Council to offer practical advice and assistance with pet ownership at the same time," Council's Animal Education and Enforcement Officer, Jess Clarke, said.
The Furry Friends Festival was made possible thanks to a grant from the NSW Government to promote Byron Shire Council's Dogs in Public Spaces Strategy.
We hope it becomes an annual event.
Over the last year Council has delivered a raft of road projects around Mullumbimby, that have made improvements to traffic movement and pedestrian safety.
The raised pedestrian crossing and resurfaced road on Murwillumbah Street near St John's Primary School is making a huge difference, as is the resurfaced road at the Tincogan Street/Dalley Street intersection, which has resolved long-standing traffic issues.
We're also pleased to see the new pedestrian crossing on Tincogan Street getting great use by the community, with help from the smiley face safety sign.
Meanwhile, Mullumbimby residents are making the most of the new tennis courts near the community gardens, the brand new dog park and new car park adjoining the upgraded skatepark.
River Terrace resurfacing is also now complete and the new footpath on Fern Street (connecting to Stuart Street) is almost done.
Council has also been consulting the community on their vision for new play equipment at Heritage Park.
Completed projects in 2023 to 2024
- Gravel resheeting at Kennedys Lane
- Guardrail replacements at Keyes Bridge
- Fence repairs at Booyong Bridge and O'Mearas Bridge
Projects underway/programmed
- Federal Drive reconstruction
- Huonbrook drainage
- Gravel resheeting of Cedarvale Road, Durrumbul Road, Riverside Drive, The Saddle Road, Jones Road, Huonbrook Road
- Guardrail replacement and repairs on Donaghy's Bridge, Palmwoods Bridge, Pioneer Bridge, Repentance Creek Bridge, Jubilee Avenue
- Repair of five minor landslips on Main Arm Road (two), The Pocket Road, Goonengerry Road, Left Bank Road
Approved projects scheduled for 2024 to 2025
- Left Bank Road pavement and culvert repairs
- Johnson’s Road pavement repairs and culvert repairs
- Byron Bay drainage upgrade
- Mullumbimby Road improvements
- Coopers Creek Road
- Main Arm causeways 8, 11, 13, 14, 15 and the culvert between 15 and Dry Creek Road
- Palmwoods causeways 1, 2, 3
- Wanganui Road causeways 1, 2
Projects awaiting approval include:
- Upper Wilsons Creek roads
- Huonbrook Road landslip
- Coopers Lane
- The Pocket Road
- Wilsons Creek Road
Some of the work completed in 2023 to 2024
- Sewer pit inspections program
- Sewer Main CCTV assessments program
- Carlyle Street water main upgrade
- Mullumbimby emergency trunk main detailed design
- Reservoir roof replacements program
- Inflow and infiltration sewer relining of 20 gravity mains.
- Additional flow path for the Byron STP
Underway or coming up in 2024 to 2025
- Low pressure pump station upgrades
- Wilsons Creek Weir slip repair
- Hydrant inspections program
- Inflow and infiltration patch works program
- Inflow and infiltration relining works program
- Mullumbimby emergency trunk main upgrade
- Bangalow Road water main upgrade
- Fletcher Street water main upgrade
- Sewer pump stations renewals program
- Brushbox water main upgrade
- Main Arm Road water main upgrade
A snapshot of what we completed in 2023 to 2024
- Wordsworth Street upgrade
- Left Bank Road pavement reconstruction
- Strand Avenue pavement rehabilitation
- Carlye Street upgrade
- Manns Road upgrade
- Mullumbimby Recreational Ground carpark upgrade
- River Terrace pavement
- Linda Vidler Park drainage work
- Gloria Street and Royal Avenue infiltration drainage
- Keith Street asphalt overlay
- Tincogan Street footpath
- Belongil Beach parking improvements
- Mullumbimby skatepark access road
- Erosion protection work – Childe Street and Manfred Street
- Orana Bridge deck renewal
A snapshot of what’s underway and coming up in 2024 to 2025
- Fern Street footpath
- Bayshore Drive reconstruction
- South Beach Road upgrade
- Station Street drainage
- Mullumbimby Road upgrade
- Rifle Range Road upgrade
- SGB flood pump generator power supply
- Belongil and Tallowood line marking
- Installation of automated “flooded road closure” signage
- Station Street upgrade
- Mullumbimby to Brunswick Heads cycleway design
- Byron Shire Overland Flow Path Study
- Bangalow Flood Study
- Belongil and Tallow Creek Flood Plan reviews
- Coogera Creek Detention Basin upgrade
- Broken Head Road culvert upgrade
- Lawson Street upgrade
In 2023 to 2024 we resealed
- Stewarts Road, Booyong
- Federal Drive, from village to Eureka Road
- Kings Road, Eureka
- Minyon Street, Mullumbimbi Street, Short Street, Teven Street, Brunswick Heads
- Seaview Street and Browning Street, Byron Bay
- Sections of Booyong Road, Shirley Street, Main Arm Road, Broken Head Road
New rules for short-term rental accommodation
From 23 September this year there will be new rules in place for owners for short-term rental accommodation (STRA) in the Byron Shire.
There will be a shire-wide, 60-day cap on the number of nights an unhosted property can be let out in a year, with the exception of parts of Byron Bay and Brunswick Heads.
There has been a 12-month transition period in place since last September to allow property owners and the industry to adapt to the changes.
Staff are developing processes to monitor, audit and enforce STRA via the NSW Government register and other data sources in line with the changes that are coming.
Council believes the new rules will be an incentive for some owners to return their properties to the long-term rental pool.
In 2023/24 Council began the process of refreshing its Residential Strategy.
The Residential Strategy is a document that looks at how and where future housing will be provided in the Byron Shire over the next 20 years.
The key component of refreshing the Residential Strategy was the exhibition of a Housing Options Paper which looked at four ways of accommodating population growth such as:
- Infill development in established residential areas
- New land releases suitable for urban development
- Existing land that is already zoned for residential development but not released
- Living differently by changing the way we use our homes.
Using feedback from the Housing Options Paper we have updated the Residential Strategy, and it is now with the NSW Government for approval.
There's more information about the Residential Strategy on our website.
Three cheers for our bush regeneration team who recently planted more than 5,000 native plants along a two kilometre stretch of the Brunswick River on Mullumbimby’s Riverside Drive.
The team is regularly working on 432 hectares of bushland reserves across 90 sites in the Byron Shire including 15 kilometres of the Brunswick River and its tributaries and more than nine kilometres of natural vegetation along our beaches.
Thanks to the amazing work of this team approximately 147 hectares now contain less than one percent of introduced plant species.
Bush stone curlews are endangered in NSW but we are lucky to have them in the Byron Shire.
Become a citizen scientist by reporting all your local curlew activity sightings via our website.
Bush Stone-curlews
Pay parking is coming to Brunswick Heads
Last year Council resolved to install pay parking in Brunswick Heads and provide eligible residents in the Byron Shire with free permits.
Staff are expecting the pay parking meters to be installed in Brunswick Heads in August/September this year.
Stay up-to-date on the introduction of pay parking by checking Council's website.
Did you know Sandhills Early Childhood Centre in Byron Bay is a vibrant and nurturing community with a focus on nature, sustainability, creativity and well-being?
We offer nurturing early years education for children aged six weeks to five years of age through a flexible and emergent program.
Sandhills Early Childhood Centre
A snapshot of some of our programs in 2023 to 2024
- Kohinur Hall solar power
- Durrumbul Hall improvements
- Lilly Pilly Preschool roof replacement
- New roof and shade sail at Brunswick Valley Community Centre
- Mullumbimby pool filters
- Resurfaced Mullumbimby and Byron Bay netball courts
- Resurfaced tennis courts at Mullumbimby, Suffolk Park, Ocean Shores and Billinudgel
- Improvements to cricket nets, wicket and playing field at Lomath Oval
- Mullumbimby Rugby League fields drainage and surface improvements
- New off-leash dog parks at Mullumbimby.
- New amenities at Mullumbimby Recreation Grounds and Dening Park
- New fencing at Pine Avenue sports fields
- Mullumbimby Cemetery – designs for expansion and upgrade of Columbarium Walls section
- Mullumbimby Heritage Park Landscape Masterplan
- Tom Kendall Park improvements
- Replaced 250m of dune fencing on New Brighton Esplanade
- Byron Bay Croquet Courts clubhouse and playing surface upgrades.
- Byron Bay Scout Hall roof replacement and upgrade
- Belongil Beach emergency vehicle access ramp
- Refurbishment of indoor courts at Cavanbah Centre
- Resurfacing of Cavanbah Centre southern car park
- New amenities and improvements at Linda Vidler Park
- Brunswick Memorial Hall access ramp
- Lighting upgrade at Bangalow sports fields