Consultations completed 2020

To develop our Biodiversity Conservation Strategy 2020 to 2030, we spoke with:

• local expert ecologists,
• aboriginal stakeholders,
• local community, 
• landowners,
• environmental volunteers,
• other local councils.

During the consultation on the draft Strategy:

• 431 people visited the Biodiversity Conservation Strategy Your Say page.
• 23 submissions were received.

The draft Strategy was peer reviewed by eight key local industry professionals, with expertise in: 

• Flora and fauna.
• Ecological restoration
• Town planning
• Representative from the Bundjalung of Byron Bay Aboriginal Corporation (Arakwal). 

It was publicly exhibited for 8 weeks from 24 March to 20 May 2020, and adopted by Council on 25 June 2020, with amendments recommended during the public exhibition period. 

Visit Biodiversity Conservation Strategy to view a copy of the Strategy. 

The Byron Arts and Industry Estate has evolved from a local service centre to an eclectic mix of businesses and residential uses.

While this evolution has brought vitality to the place, it has also resulted in a number of significant functional issues, such as traffic and access.

Council prepared a draft Precinct Plan to provide a framework to address these issues and build a strong platform for the future of the Estate. 

Following feedback the Byron Arts and Industry Estate Precinct Plan was adopted in June 2020. Read more about the Plan and associated projects on our website.

In September and October 2020, we asked for feedback on the draft Net Zero Emissions Action Plan for Council Operations 2025. We received four submissions.

The Net Zero Emissions Action Plan was adopted at the 26 November 2020 Council Meeting. 

View the Net Zero Emissions Action Plan on our website.

We engaged over four hundred dog owners across the shire via an online survey to find: 

• 76% own one dog and 24% own two or more dogs.
• Two in five dogs always come when called and leave wildlife alone.
• 68% strongly enjoy their dog being able to move freely off-leash.
• 86% believe both the community and council should protect wildlife and their habitat.

Dog owners surveyed identified five key benefits of leashing:

• Control of dog
• Safety of my dog
• Safety of other dogs and people
• Safety of animals/wildlife
• Helps dog stimulation and mental health  

Likewise, five key challenges with leashing also emerged:

• Dog can’t exercise properly
• Problems with non-complying dogs and owners
• Reduced dog play and socialisation
• No challenges (e.g. if dog well-trained)
• Difficult to exercise/bad behaviour

Read more about the local dog owner research at Dog leashing 

Following community consultation there will be a new shared path in Deacon and Ashton Streets, Bangalow.

This was an action from the Bangalow Village Plan 

Council adopted the Residential Strategy at the 10 December 2020 Planning meeting. 

The Strategy was forwarded to the NSW Department of Planning Industry and Environment (DPIE) for final endorsement.

DPIE requested a peer review of the Strategy which was finalised in early 2022.

For more information visit Residential Strategy

About the Residential Strategy

The Residential Strategy sets a clear vision and policy framework for the Shire’s urban residential lands. How we deliver future housing will influence the form of our towns and villages at the lot, street and neighbourhood level.

We want our residents to feel part of a community where there is a choice of homes to suit their current and future needs, in a town or village that reflects its own unique identity and local character.

Draft Residential Strategy – Additional investigation areas

Following the public exhibition of the draft Residential Strategy in August to October 2019, submissions were received from landowners expressing an interest in having their land designated for residential land purposes in the Strategy.

Council considered the landowner submissions at the Council Planning meeting of 18 June 2020. They resolved to support the Residential Strategy being updated to include six additional sites as investigation areas in the Strategy, and that further consultation take place with community and government agencies.