Byron Bay Drainage Upgrade

Announcement

The detailed design was endorsed with changes at the March 2025 Ordinary Council Meeting.

Construction in the Town Centre Catchment is expected to start in 2025. Further information about construction will be provided in the coming months.

Project typeUpgrades to Byron Bay’s drainage system
Project value$1,281,720 (design), exact construction funding TBC.
Project scheduleDesign complete, construction in the Town Centre Catchment to start in 2025

Aerial view of the Byron Skate Park with Cape-Byron-and-the-Lighthouse in the background

The detailed design was endorsed with changes at the March 2025 Ordinary Council Meeting.

Construction is expected to start in 2025. Further information about construction will be provided in the coming months.

Community consultation

Community consultation with businesses and property owners is ongoing (commenced March 2024). The most recent drop-in sessions were held at Byron Farmers Market in April and May 2025.

History of flooding

Byron Bay has a history of flooding during heavy rain, and this affects businesses and residents. It is further compounded by:

low terrain
ocean levels
Belongil Creek
Belongil Creek floodplain.

Funding

Detailed design

Australian Government’s Preparing Australian Communities program $1,081,720
Council contributed $200,000 to the project.
Byron Bay Drainage Upgrade Town Centre Detailed Design (PDF, 25MB)

Construction

We have received funding for the construction Town Centre Catchment and the Recreation Grounds Catchment. Full funding information is TBC.

$7M for gravity drainage upgrades in the Town Centre Catchment, has been jointly funded by the Australian and NSW Governments through the Infrastructure Betterment Fund.

$11.8M for gravity drainage upgrades in the Recreation Grounds Catchment has been funded by the Australian Government through the Emergency Response Fund administered by NSW Reconstruction Authority’s Northern Rivers Recovery and Resilience Program 22-23.

We will need additional grant funding to complete construction of the remaining stages.

Staging

The upgrade to drainage will require construction to be staged. The Town Centre Catchment design is Council's first priority, followed by the Recreation Grounds Catchment.

The detailed design for The Town Centre Catchment is complete. Construction in the Town Centre catchment is due to commence in 2025.