Byron Bay Drainage Upgrade Design Project

Announcement

Planned potholing and geotechnical work is now complete.

Information gathered from these investigative works is being used to complete the detailed design of the project.

Project typeDesign upgrades to Byron Bay’s drainage system
Project value$1,281,720
Project scheduleEarly 2023 until February 2025
Completion Date28 February 2025

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

We have begun working with consultants to design upgrades to Byron Bay's drainage system.

The project will review the preferred Byron Drainage Strategy, develop a plan that aims to reduce the risk of flooding in the town centre and near Cowper and Shirley Street.

The Concept Design was adopted by Council, and we are now working on the Detailed Design, this is due to be completed in early 2025. Once we have the Detailed Design complete, we can begin construction (aiming for early to mid 2025).

Community consultation

Community consultation with businesses and property owners is ongoing (commenced March 2024).

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.

Council has received grant funding for the design phase of the project.

Funding

Detailed design

Australian Government’s Preparing Australian Communities program $1,081,720
Council is contributing $200,000 to the project.

Drainage upgrades

We have received funding for the Town Centre Catchment and the Recreation Grounds Catchment.

$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.

The Shirley Street Catchment is currently not funded, but it is hoped that funding will be secured in the future.

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 nearly complete and an Expression of Interest (EOI) will be issued in December 2024, to find a suitable construction contractor to do the work.