1 Broken Head Road redevelopment project

Council's vision for the future of 1 Broken Head Road is for the former South Byron Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) to be used in a way that delivers a wide range of benefits back to the community. 

Redevelopment of the site was put on hold in 2020 to enable remediation of the site. 

While the majority of remediation works were completed earlier in May 2022, there are two effluent ponds at the eastern end of this site that still need to be assessed for contamination.

An options assessment will be completed by November and go to Council for consideration by March 2023.

Effluent ponds

Located near the Tallow Creek ICOLL, the freshwater ponds provide ecological benefits to local birds and wildlife.

The ponds are also close to walking and cycling tracks near the access to Tallow Beach and are part of the landscape enjoyed by the local community.

However, the ponds do pose a range of safety risks due to:

  • deep water;
  • steep batters;
  • obscured edges; 
  • submerged objects; and
  • potentially contaminated sediments.

Options being explored include:

  • Fencing of the two ponds for public safety;
  • Ways to mitigate risks to public safety so that fencing can be reduced or even removed; and
  • Developing options for pond modification that could enhance ecological function.

Background to remediation works

1 Broken Head Road, Byron Bay, is a 7.76 hectare Council-owned site that operated as the South Byron Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) from 1972 until it was decommissioned in 2005.  Prior to this, the site hosted night cart operations from 1909.

In March 2019, Council started a remediation project at this site which includes:

  • excavating and capping soils and contaminated material in a consolidated buffer zone (or berm)
  • planting a nature corridor on the site

The remediation project is expected to be finished by mid 2021.

1 Broken Head Road - site map

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