New Brighton, South Golden Beach and Ocean Shores Place Plan

The Draft Place Plan for New Brighton, South Golden Beach and Ocean Shores contains the following three sections:

1 Introducing our Place Plan

This section provides the guiding principles, vision and character statements for each community. It also provides a summary of the 20 priority actions detailed in the Plan.

2 Guiding our Place Plan

This section provides background on the factors and trends guiding this place plan, including community values, history and culture, environment, people, housing and movement.

3 Implementing our Place Plan

This section provides the governance and funding options to be followed in order to implement the Place Plan. It also provides detail for each of the 22 priority actions, including a description, background information, time frames and key stakeholders.

These five principles are intended to guide the development and implementation of the actions identified in this Place Plan.

Caring for Country

We acknowledge the Minjungbal people of the Bundjalung Jugun (Country) as the first and enduring custodians. We work together to continue to care for country and recognise and celebrate the rich culture of our villages. We celebrate and care for the incredible local wildlife, beaches, natural systems and nature reserves and prioritise positive environmental outcomes. 

Safe and Connected Communities 

We have safe streets that enable people of all ages and abilities to easily move between and around our villages. We ensure that future infrastructure in the three villages enables greater use of active and sustainable transport. We value connections to public transport, bike paths and footpaths that support our community to move about safely and easily without the need for a car. 

Maintaining the Village Feel 

We value the quiet, coastal lifestyle and want to maintain the village feel. Private development or public infrastructure works are consistent with our existing local character and charm. Art, signage, activities and works capture the cultural essence of the place and primarily support the local community. Draft Place Plan for New Brighton, South Golden Beach and Ocean Shores 

Fostering a Thriving and Inclusive Community 

We are a diverse, creative, fun and inclusive community. We support and enable events and activities for all ages. Our parks, community facilities and events bring people together and celebrate local history and culture. Youth involvement and leadership is prioritised to support future generations in building and maintaining connections in our villages. 

Building Resilience 

We acknowledge current and future threats and aim to build resilient and prepared communities. We prioritise stormwater management and flood mitigation works wherever possible. We work together to increase the community’s ability to anticipate, prepare for and recover from the impact of natural disasters.

The Community Vision is a statement that sets the community’s aspiration for the next 20 years. The actions identified in this Plan support this vision.

New Brighton

New Brighton is the traditional lands of the Minjungbal people of the Bundjalung Jugun and home to a small, close-knit community that has a unique local village charm and character. The neighbouring waterways, nature reserves and native wildlife are cared for and protected, maintaining this special place for future generations.

South Golden Beach

South Golden Beach is the traditional lands of the Minjungbal people of the Bundjalung Jugun and home to a low-key, familyfriendly and connected coastal community. Residents and the natural environment are interwoven, with abundant wildlife, lush green landscapes and a beautiful beach. Our strong sense of community is at the core of who we are. The community strives to be connected to Jugun (Country) and each other in an inclusive way.

Ocean Shores

Ocean Shores is the traditional lands of the Minjungbal people of the Bundjalung Jugun. It is the place where the locals live, a calm, peaceful place where you can breathe. There is a balance between the thriving commercial and residential areas and the surrounding lush landscape, where both are nurtured and supported well into the future.

The following list is a summary of the 22 priority actions developed in consultation with community.

More details are included in the Draft Place Plan.

1. Work towards a strategic network of paths and cycleways

2. Improve road safety for pedestrians at village centres and beach entries

3. Improve road safety for drivers and pedestrians at potentially dangerous intersections

4. Progress project to improve pedestrian and cyclist safety over Kolora Way / New Brighton Road bridge               

5. Trial traffic calming measures to reduce vehicle speeds in residential streets – initially in South Golden Beach

6. Lobby Transport for NSW to increase public transport in the area and aim to have this reflected in their North Coast Strategic Regional Integrated Transport Plan

7a. Investigate the development of a second sports field at Bob Bellear Sports Field on Shara Boulevard

7b: Masterplan Tom Kendall Sports Field in New Brighton to become a multiuse village green for a wide range of users (if 7a complete)

8. Engage the community regarding New Brighton Farmers Market, as part of the Sustainable Community Markets Policy review

9. Continue to make improvements at Waterlily Park, Ocean Shores and update the Plan of Management as needed

10. Deliver minor improvements and additions to parks and public amenities

11. Promote the Yalla Kool reserve and the Devines Hill walking tracks in Ocean Shores

12. Promote the purpose of the local Nature Reserves to community and visitors – to protect and conserve native plants and animals

13. Support NSW Government to address the Marshalls Creek riverbank erosion in New Brighton

14. Encourage the Ocean Shores Shopping Centre area to evolve into a town centre as noted in the Business and Industrial Lands Strategy

15. Deliver an annual grant program over three years to support local activations and events

16. Investigate potential to extend the suburb boundary of South Golden Beach to include neighbouring northern section of Ocean Shores

17. Create a place and wayfinding signage plan for the villages

18. Update the 2020 North Byron Flood Study and associated Risk Management Plan

19. Assess and undertake necessary upgrades to South Golden Beach rear drainage easements

20: Develop an Emergency Preparedness Plan for the three communities

21. Investigate the viability, including assessment of environmental impacts, of a Marshalls Creek Boardwalk, connecting the Ocean Shores shopping area to the beach

22. Investigate the establishment of a new mixed use neighbourhood precinct to service the needs west of Ocean Shores near the Balemo Drive/Orana Road entry to Ocean Shores, when Council's Business and Industrial Lands Strategy is reviewed.

To help draft the Place Plan, the first round of community feedback took place from July to October 2024. The engagement included:

• Online engagement through the ‘Social Pinpoint’ mapping tool, which received approximately 380 contributions
• 3 in-person workshops open for anyone in the community to attend, with approximately 100 attendees over the three days
• Pop-ups at New Brighton Farmers Market and Ocean Shores Shopping Centre
• 2 Stakeholder Reference Group meetings made up of community representatives and other stakeholders (such as technical experts and government agencies)
• Meetings with key stakeholders and groups including:
  • local community associations
  • local Minjungbal representatives
  • Mullumbimby High School students
  • Ocean Shores Country Club
  • Ocean Shores Shopping Centre Management
  • National Parks and Wildlife Service
  • Transport for NSW
  • Marine Parks.

Thank you to everyone who participated! You can view a summary of the consultation here: What We Heard Community Engagement New Brighton, South Golden Beach.(PDF, 2MB)

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