Restoring the Sandhills Wetlands in Byron Bay

An assessment of Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) of Sandhills Stormwater Management System was on public exhibition throughout December, January and closed on 19 February 2024.

At the 28 March 2024 meeting, Council approved the EIS for the wetlands, which is due to be constructed in 2024.

A preliminary concept design has been prepared by Australian Wetland Consulting and Planit Consulting prepared the Environmental Impact Statement.

The objective of the Environmental Impact Statement is to:

• Ensure relevant environmental, social and economic impacts are identified and assessed.
• Identify mitigation measures to avoid and minimise negative impacts.

Environmental issues being assessed include:

• Biodiversity
• Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal heritage
• Flooding, hydrology and groundwater
• Soils, contamination and water quality
• Noise and vibration
• Air quality
• Traffic and transport
• Visual amenity
• Social impacts
• Hazard and risk
• Waste management. 

View the Environmental Impact Statement and associated documents

Some of these documents are very large files. If you have trouble downloading, copies will be available to view at our Council offices. 

Sandhills Wetland Environmental Impact Statement(PDF, 4MB)

• Sandhills Wetland Detailed Design Package(PDF, 22MB)
• Sandhills Wetland Detailed Design Report(PDF, 15MB)
• Sandhills Wetland Basis of Design Report(PDF, 13MB)
• Sandhills Wetland Design Response to SEARs(PDF, 24MB)
• Biodiversity Development Assessment Report BDAR - Contents(PDF, 7MB)
• Biodiversity Assessment Report BDAR - Appendices(PDF, 23MB)
• Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Assessment(PDF, 69MB)
• Historical Heritage Assessment(PDF, 13MB)
• Construction Water Management Plan(PDF, 8MB)
• Acid Sulfate Soils Management Plan(PDF, 13MB)
• Construction Air Quality Impact Assessment(PDF, 1MB)
• Sandhills Stormwater Management System Coastal Hazard Impacts(PDF, 1MB)
• Sandhills Stormwater Management System Flood Impact Assessment(PDF, 16MB)
• Detailed Site Investigation(PDF, 21MB)
• Construction Noise and Vibration Management Plan(PDF, 867KB)
• Construction Traffic Management Plan(PDF, 2MB)
• Waste Management Plan(PDF, 1MB) 

Work started in late August 2024 and finished in late November 2025. 

Construction of the wetlands involves: 

• Removal of approximately 15,000 cubic metres of material and associated vegetation.
• Extensive landscaping incorporating native trees, shrubs and aquatic plants.
• Major sewer upgrade to service the area east of the wetland.
• Massinger Street shared path connecting the wetlands to Lawson Street.

The project has been designed in consultation with Arakwal and the Tweed Byron Local Aboriginal Land Council, using an approach that:

• Acknowledges traditional connection with Country.
• Respects the cultural significance of the area.
• Preserves Aboriginal cultural heritage.
• Improves the health of Country.
• Includes cultural awareness and education opportunities.
• Completes the link from Byron Bay through Sandhills Estate to the Arakwal Cultural Centre site. 

The Sandhills Wetlands area was heavily sand-mined in the 1960s, which destroyed the original wetlands.  

For many years the Sandhills Estate, which is in the heart of Byron Bay, was overgrown and under-utilised, with a resulting increase in anti-social behaviour.

In 2020, Council developed a staged precinct plan for the Sandhills site. 

This delivers the vision of the Byron Bay Masterplan, to provide a safe and accessible public spaces that combines ecological and cultural values with circulation routes and recreation activities. 

Stages of the Sandhills Estate Precinct Plan

• Stage 1 – Tennyson Street upgrades to extend pedestrian/cycle paths from Suffolk Park to Sandhills Estate and provide some additional parking – completed in 2021
• Stage 2 – Cowper Street pedestrian pathway upgrades – to improve north/south access through Sandhills Estate - completed in 2021
• Stage 3 - New Middleton Street public toilets – completed in 2023
• Stage 4 - Gilmore Crescent upgrades that completed the pedestrian/cycle link from Suffolk Park, through Jarjumirr Park all the way to Main Beach, improved the road and created additional parking – completed in 2023
• Stage 5 – new Main Beach public toilets – completed in 2023
• Stage 6 – Jarjumirr Park skate park and recreation precinct – completed in 2024
• Stage 7 – Middleton Street connection path – completed in 2024
• Stage 8 – the Sandhills Wetlands project and additional paths - completed in November 2025