Consultations completed in 2021

The Bangalow Development Controls Review and Urban Design Principles for ‘The Triangle’ Consultation has now finished.

Feedback was considered by Council at 4 November Council Meeting where the amended Chapters were adopted. View the 4 November feedback report

The amended Development Control Plan chapters are effective from 25 November 2021 and can be viewed on Development Control Plan 2014 webpage.

Bangalow Village Plan

Thank you for participating in the bypassed town signage consultation for Mullumbimby, Brunswick Heads and Bangalow.

We received feedback from approximately 180 members of our community during the consultation period. Feedback was given on whether or not the signs should be implemented, as well as proposed photographic imagery and service symbols.

Council is providing the outcomes of this consultation to state government. The local Member of Parliament will be asked to agree on the images and Transport for NSW will arrange professional photography of the image, should the signage go ahead.

Consultation closed 31 January 2021.

In early 2021, we asked for feedback on changes to our planning controls in order to deliver the vision of the Byron Bay Town Centre Masterplan. 

Thankyou for your feedback and letting us know what you thought. For a summary of the feedback visit our report to Council in 13 May meeting agenda.

From 20 August 2021, the planning controls, to improve the development outcomes for the town centre, are included in our Byron Local Environmental Plan 2014 (LEP).

Key changes include:

• Introduction of a Building Height Allowance clause for development located on flood prone land and a new Building Height Allowance Map
• Design Excellence controls and a new Design Excellence Map
• Active Street Frontage controls and a new Active Street Frontages Map
• The formation of a Design Excellence Panel

The LEP amendment is supported by a new chapter of the Byron Development Control Plan DCP 2014 Chapter E10 Byron Bay Town Centre which outlines additional development provisions to guide better development outcomes in the town centre.

The development application for the monthly Byron Community Market to be relocated to the Byron Bay town centre is being assessed. If approved, the proposed relocation date is expected to be late 2022. We will confirm on our website once announced.

A summary of the feedback collected is below.

Feedback summary

Feedback from the consultation in May 2021 helped refine the market plan, including:

• Traffic management plan to manage Jonson St closure
• Reduction in stall numbers meaning no markets in Rails carpark
• Traffic controllers managing carpark access for customers, deliveries and local business parking
• Dedicated market stallholder parking
• Promotion of walking, cycling, and public transport to reduce reliance on cars
• Placement of stalls to direct exiting foot traffic towards existing town centre businesses
• Refinement of waste management to reduce waste generated by market stalls.

This consultation has concluded.

The outcomes of the survey will be documented in the Coastal Management Program Southern Coastline including Estuaries 

The information we received from the survey informs the next stage of the development of the Coastal Management Plan. 

Many thanks for your feedback.

We heard from over 100 people who felt the one-way traffic trial had made an improvement to their experience of using Centennial Circuit and wanted it to become permanent.

Centennial Circuit one way traffic trial extended

On 4 November, Council decided to extend the one-way traffic trial in Centennial Circuit until the changes can be made permanent.

One way traffic will continue to circulate in a clockwise direction from Brigantine to Wollongbar Streets. 

We are finalising the permanent design for the one-way traffic circulation. While that happens trial measures, such as water-filled barriers, will remain in place.

The final Climate Change Adaptation Plan was adopted in August 2021.

To view, visit Climate Change Adaptation Plan

During the Your Say consultation, 11 submissions were received. The key themes included:

• Flooding and drainage concerns.
• Aboriginal culture and traditional land management.
• Coastal issues.
• Urban greening.

Various clarifications and changes to the Plan were made following this feedback. The final draft was made available at the 5 August Council Meeting, where Council resolved to:

• Adopt the Climate Change Adaptation Plan, noting that final graphic design is to follow.
• Acknowledge the Peer Reviewers for their time, commitment, and valuable expertise in shaping the Climate Change Adaptation Plan.

Many actions within the Plan have already started, however Council will continue to implement the Plan over the next five years. The community will be kept informed of any upcoming workshops or events to enhance resilience against climate change.

Thanks for your feedback. This survey closed on 7 May 2021.

We launched the Byron Shire Council Emergency Dashboard in December 2020, just days before an intense weather system hit the region.

The aim of the dashboard it to provide a central point where people can go to for information during an emergency. This includes information from:

• SES
• Bureau of Meteorology (BOM)
• RFS
• Council
• Various social media feeds.

We are continuing to refine the dashboard and are interested in getting feedback from people who have used the website.

The Linda Vidler Masterplan is a long-term vision for the park, with the aim of catering for all members of the community, regardless of age, by providing a place where they can relax, exercise and meet with friends.

The Linda Vidler Masterplan was adopted in July 2021, following consultation throughout early 2021

The Masterplan was designed in consultation with key stakeholders including:

• Suffolk Park Progress Association
• Arakwal Corporation
• Suffolk Park Community Gardens
• Suffolk Park Football Association.

Our Operational Plan and associated budget, revenue policy, and fees and charges. Was on public exhibition from 14 May to 11 June 2021 and adopted on 24 June 2021.

Our Delivery Program and Operational Plan

Council adopted a scoping study for the Southern Byron Shire Coastline and Belongil Estuary in August 2021. 

The Scoping Study considers community feedback from late 2020 to early 2021.

For more information visit Coastal Management Program Southern Coastline including Estuaries

The Suffolk Park Progress Association and Council worked together to build a pump track on a section of the Suffolk Park Recreation Ground.

The pump track opened in July 2021.

The Suffolk Park Progress Association was successful in getting a grant of $156,300 from the NSW Government via its My Community Projects fund.

Council contributed $118,700 to the project.

The Suffolk Park Pump Track  is a great addition to existing facilities at the Suffolk Park Recreation Ground which include a soccer field, tennis court, skate park and community garden.

All bus stops must comply with Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport guidelines.

In May and June 2021, we asked for feedback on the accessibility, safety, usage, of bus stops in our Shire.

The project focused on formal Council bus stops as well as the many informal stops used by school and community buses.

Council reviewed responses, analysed stop priority and prepared a staged program. The program will be rolled out over the next 3 financial years to 2024. This program is not fixed and will be reviewed as new information is received. 

Survey Results

This consultation closed on 11 June 2021. Thanks for your feedback.

We received 78 responses and the key themes were (in no particular order):

• school bus stops are a priority
• safe pedestrian access to stops
• maintenance concerns (e.g. graffiti, rubbish, overgrown vegetation)
• signage
• protection from weather for passengers
• safety of road users
• parking for school drop off / pick up
• speed limits around bus zones
• space for bus pullover and turning
• changes to bus stop locations.

Throughout December 2021 we collected opinions, ideas, experiences and challenges of young people living, working, studying or socialising in the Byron Shire.

The aim was to help us understand your unique needs and views as a young person.

The data will also tell us how we can make sure your voice is properly heard when making important decisions about Byron Shire's future.

It also gives you the chance to influence how Council works with young people.

The anonymous data was also shared with youth services and community organisations to help inform service delivery and advocacy for young people in the Byron Shire.