Have your say on the future of Byron Bay foreshore

The Byron Shire community is invited to have their say on the future of the Byron Bay foreshore throughout June and July.

Byron Shire Council’s Director Infrastructure Services, Phil Holloway, said that a concept plan has been developed for the iconic area, which is one of the community’s most beloved places and attracts a huge amount of visitors every year. It is also of great importance to traditional landowners.

The plan proposes a range of changes and upgrades across four main areas including the Main Beach carpark, Apex Park, Dening Park and Clarkes Beach. The community’s invited to view the concept plan and have a say via Council’s website until 31 July.

“The foreshore area is quite degraded now and has accessibility and emergency access issues, so this plan will guide gradual upgrades to the site over the next ten years,” Mr Holloway said.

“Feedback from the community will be used to determine the best uses for different parts of the site, and also guide the relocation of The Beach Café at Clarkes Beach so that it’s further back from the dune,” he said.

“Some of the ideas proposed are to remove the exe-loos from Main Beach and build some much-needed and well-designed new toilet and shower facilities that can service this popular area into the future.

“One option for the community to consider is replacing the current ‘ocean view’ car park at Main Beach with green open space and a beautiful wide footpath promenade which will return the whole space to pedestrians and allow people to walk, roll or ride all the way from First Sun Caravan Park to the Lighthouse,” Mr Holloway said.

“To ensure there’s no net loss of car parking for the area, the plan proposes to use the existing car park behind the pool and build a multi-story carpark there – near the shops and tucked out of the way,” he said.

“However, we know that the ocean-view carpark is significant to the community, as well as generating significant income for Council, so there is also an option to keep it with a slight reduction in parking numbers to improve accessibility.”

“Council staff have looked at the Byron Bay Town Centre Masterplan and Main Beach Shoreline Project, as well as consulting with key stakeholders on the project, to develop a plan that reflects what everyone values,” Mr Holloway said.

“Now we want to hear from the wider community on what we’ve got right, what we’ve got wrong and whether there’s anything we’ve missed.” “We’re hosting some information sessions at Apex Park and farmers market in June and the July Byron Community Market to talk about the plan and answer questions, and people can review the foreshore plan and provide feedback anytime online via Council’s website until the end of July,” he said.

Information sessions about the Byron Bay Foreshore Plan will be held as follows:

• Thursday 20 June – Byron Farmers Market (6.30am – 11am)
• Saturday 22 June – Byron Surf Club (9am – 12pm)
• Thursday 27 June – Byron Farmers Market (6.30am – 11am)
• Friday 28 June – Apex Park, Byron Bay (2.30pm – 5.30pm)
• Sunday 7 July – Byron Community Market (7am – 2pm)

If you can’t make it to a session, you can have your say on the project via Council’s website until 31 July 2024.

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Byron Shire Council Unveils Inaugural Furry Friends Festival

Byron Shire Council is thrilled to introduce the Furry Friends Festival, a vibrant community event celebrating pets and their owners. Scheduled for Saturday, June 15th, at the Bangalow Showgrounds, this inaugural festival promises a delightful array of activities, expert advice on pet care, and opportunities for socializing—all while promoting responsible pet ownership and environmental stewardship.

Byron Shire Council is delighted to announce the launch of its inaugural Furry Friends Festival, set to take place on Saturday, June 15th, at the picturesque Bangalow Showgrounds. From 9am to 12pm, pet lovers and their furry companions are invited to join in the festivities and partake in a day of fun, learning, and camaraderie.

“This is a fun community event to celebrate the Byron Shire’s furry friends and their owners while providing some practical advice and assistance with pet ownership,” remarked Ms. Sarah Nagel, Council’s Manager of Public & Environmental Services, highlighting the festival’s dual focus on enjoyment and education.

The Furry Friends Festival boasts an exciting lineup of attractions, including complimentary face painting for children, enticing giveaways and stalls, a mouthwatering sausage sizzle, and a captivating photo booth for capturing cherished moments with pets. Attendees can also avail themselves of nail clipping services for their furry companions and engage with local veterinarians for expert advice.

Moreover, the festival offers a unique opportunity for pet owners to learn from experienced dog trainers, with informative talks scheduled throughout the morning. “Bring your furry friends along for some nail clipping, talk to our local vets and sit in on dog trainer talks happening throughout the morning,” encouraged Ms. Nagel.

As a ‘dog on lead’ event, the Furry Friends Festival prioritizes the safety and well-being of all attendees. “Having all our pets on leads will help everyone enjoy a safe space and the morning’s activities,” emphasized Ms. Nagel, underscoring the importance of responsible pet ownership.

In alignment with Council’s commitment to environmental conservation, the festival also aims to raise awareness of the Dogs in Public Places Strategy. “We’ll also be promoting our Dogs in Public Places Strategy, reminding people how to find information on dog areas and why it’s important to stick to the rules to avoid fines, but most importantly, to protect our beautiful environment and wildlife,” Ms. Nagel affirmed.

In essence, the Furry Friends Festival promises to be a delightful celebration of the bond between pets and their owners, fostering a sense of community spirit and promoting responsible pet ownership and environmental stewardship.

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14 projects share in $300,000 Community Building Partnership pool

STATE Member for Lismore Janelle Saffin today (Friday, 7 June) announced that 14 projects had been successful under the NSW Government’s Community Building Partnership program for 2023.

Ms Saffin congratulated this round’s recipients and encouraged local organisations developing worthwhile projects to applicants to sign up for alerts about the CBP program so they are notified when information about the next round is confirmed.

“Remember that there is only $300,000 to be spread across the entire electorate each year so please be realistic with the amount of funding sought,” Ms Saffin says.

“The Premier’s Department has introduced strict probity measures around this grant program, including the overlay of independent assessment.”

Recipients of CBP funding for this 2023 round include:   

Lismore City LGA:

The Lismore Soup Kitchen Incorporated – towards improving amenities for volunteers and the hundreds of customers of The Good Pantry Lismore – new cool storage will be purchased and installed. — $33,350.

Lismore Memorial Amateur Swimming Club Incorporated – towards capacity building of competitive swimming in Lismore – $19,353.

Northern NSW Helicopter Rescue Service Limited – acquisition of night vision goggles (NVG) for its Lismore base – $18,970.

RSL LifeCare Limited – towards commissioning a local artist to install a mural as a war memorial/commemorative space at Chauvel Village Goonellabah, honouring Sir Harry Chauvel, of the Australian Lighthorse. — $5,000.

Tenterfield Shire LGA:

Tenterfield Chamber of Tourism Industry & Business Incorporated – new Tenterfield Visitors Information Centre – shopfront fitout, purchasing and installing free-standing equipment in a newly-leased building – $30,000.

Mingoola Hall Management Committee Incorporated – towards enhancing facilities at Mingoola Hall (fire exit side access to toilets to building code, installing a water tank) — $29,439.

Kyogle LGA:

Kyogle PA&H Society (Kyogle Show) – towards repairing the showground’s three arena surfaces to make them safe for competitors and exhibitors as the ground has become uneven and sloping. – $30,000.

Bonalbo and District Community Hall Association Incorporated – towards removal of ceiling tiles which pose a risk to volunteers and hall users, replacing them with new ones – $16,000.

Country Women’s Association of NSW – Tabulam Branch – towards supplying and installing a 4.5 kw grid connect solar system including panels, inverter, mounting rail and balance of system — $7,700.

The Girl Guides Association of NSW – Kyogle Girl Guide Hall kitchen upgrade (purchase stainless steel materials to replace a kitchen which was destroyed by flood – $5,500.

Tweed Shire LGA:

Uki Sporting Horse Association – towards all weather multi-purpose sand arena (to resurface arena with long-lasting road base and sand, providing a flood-free, safe, all-weather, multi-purpose facility – $30,000.

Coolangatta-Wollumbin (Mount Warning) Dragon Boat Club Incorporated – Wollumbin Transport Vehicle (purchase a vehicle for towing dragon boats to training and regattas. Current 4WD vehicle is old and near the end of its life – $29,000.

Tweed Regional Museum – towards accessible drinking water for Tweed Regional Museum (provision of two accessible drinking fountains, indoor and outdoor, for visitors to the museum – $11,175.

Byron Shire LGA hinterland:

Federal Community Children’s Centre Incorporated – outdoor blind installation and soft fall repair and extension – $34,513.

Electorate-wide total — $300,000.

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