Consultations completed in 2023

Consultations completed in 2023.

Arts and Culture Plan

The Arts and Culture Action Plan guides our involvement and investment in arts and cultural activities in the Byron Shire.

Public exhibition of the Arts and Culture Plan concluded on 28 July 2023. The revised document incorporating feedback was adopted by Council at the 28 September 2023 Meeting. 

Visit Arts and Culture Action Plan

Bangalow Sports Fields Plan of Management Review

In August 2022 we asked for feedback to inform the development of the draft Bangalow Sports Fields Plan of Management.

We received more than 200 submissions.

Throughout April and May we asked for feedback on the Draft Bangalow Sports Fields Plan of Management and supporting Landscape Masterplan. 

Feedback closed 18 May 2023.

See the adopted Plan of management by visiting the Plans of Management library

Busking Policy Review

The Busking Policy went out on public exhibition in July 2023 and was adopted in December 2023.

Busking Policy

Byron Bay Town Centre Design Guide

The Byron Bay Town Centre Design Guide is used by our Open Spaces and Works teams for streetscape upgrades in the Byron Bay town centre.

It details the types of materials, street furniture and plants that should be used to ensure that public areas across the town have a flow and connection between them.

The Guide was adopted in August 2023.

Byron Bay Design Guide

 

Development Control Plan 2014 amendments

Byron Development Control Plan (DCP) 2014 is periodically reviewed and updated to ensure that planning controls are current and correct.

The changes can include:

  • Updates to legislation and policy.
  • Response to trends in applications.
  • Council resolutions.
  • Clarification and other issues that need addressing.

During 2023 we conducted consultation on the following Chapters:

  • Part A: Preliminary
  • Chapter B3: Services
  • Chapter B4: Traffic Planning, Vehicle Parking, Circulation and Access
  • Chapter B8: Waste Minimisation and Management
  • Chapter B10: Signage
  • Chapter C2: Areas Affected by Flood
  • Chapter D1: Residential Accommodation in Urban, Village & Special Purpose Zones
  • Chapter D3: Updates to align with the new LEP 2014 controls
  • Chapter D2: Residential Accommodation and Ancillary Development in Rural Zones
  • Chapter D8: Public Art
  • Chapter E2: Bangalow
  • Chapter E4: Brunswick Heads
  • Chapter E5: Certain locations in Byron Bay and Ewingsdale.

View the updated chapters on our Development Control Plan 2014 

Draft Operational Plan and Budget 2023 to 2024

In June each year, we develop our Operational Plan for the delivery of projects and services over the coming twelve months. Our Budget sets out how much we will spend.

These plans guide our day-to-day activities and ensure they’re linked to long-term goals captured in the:

Thank you for your feedback on the Draft Operational Plan and Budget 2023 to 2024.

The consultation closed 29 May. The documents were adopted by Council at the 22 June 2023 meeting.  

To view the documents visit Plans, reports and strategies 

Feedback on the 2023 Byron Bay Triathlon

Feedback on the 2023 Byron Bay Triathlon closed on Sunday 11 June 2023.

Submissions were reported to Council on 24 August 2023.

Council agreed to support the Byron Bay Triathlon in using a similar route in 2024 and for future events.

Prior to each event the route needs to be endorsed by the Local Traffic Committee.

Heritage Park Landscape Masterplan

Following feedback in June and July 2023, the Landscape Masterplan for Heritage Park Mullumbimby has now been adopted. 

We have received grant funding to implement accessible pathways through Heritage Park.

We have also identified funds to upgrade the playground area, and do initial works to rehabilitate the eroded lands impacted by unauthorised vehicle access at the Western end of the reserve.

Detail design is underway. Stay tuned for further engagement and opportunity for input as these plans are finalised.

Find out more and download the masterplan by visitingHeritage Park Mullumbimby Landscape Masterplan

Housing Options Paper

To refresh our Residential Strategy, the Housing Options Paper explores what has changed since 2020 and sets out a preferred way forward.

Almost 300 submissions were received from the community and state agencies’.

report on the feedback we received on the Housing Options Paper was considered by Council at the 14 December 2023 meeting.

View the Housing Options Paper

Council resolved to include five additional sites:

  • 66 The Saddle Road, Brunswick Heads
  • 251 The Saddle Road, Brunswick Heads
  • 64 Corkwood, Suffolk Park
  • 75 New City Road, Mullumbimby
  • Lot 2 DP1275809 and Lot 438 DP729107 Bangalow Road, Byron Bay

See our Residential Strategy webpage to learn more.

Keeping cats safe at home drawing competition

The Keeping Cats Safe at Home competition has drawn to a close.

We received almost 100 entries.

Thank you to everyone who entered for all of your hard work.

Check out our winners artworks from April, May and June. Aren't they puurfect?

Each of these won a prize pack including:

  • $200 cat enrichment pack and
  • A ‘Cam the Cat’ Squishmallow cat toy OR a Mudpuppy – Cat-Tastic Board Game.

The overall prize of a visit for the whole class to the Byron Bay Wildlife Sanctuary, including a talk by one of the park keepers and lunch provided, goes to 3 year old Arnold! Well done Arnold!

A special mention goes to Wilsons Creek Public School and Main Arm Upper Public School who both had whole classes submit special entries – both classes received an additional extra prize.

LEP amendments - Events at the Cavanbah Centre

The proposal to enable low impact events at the Cavanbah Centre without the need to apply for development consent, has been finalised.

Changes were included in Byron Local Environmental Plan 2014 from 4 August 2023.

The changes will fast-track approval of events such as markets and live music and reduce the cost and time for event organisers.

While organisers will still need to apply for approval for the event, the changes to the Byron Local Environment Plan (LEP) mean they will not have to submit a development application.

Onsite Sewage Management Strategy and Guidelines

If your home is not connected to Council’s sewerage system, you may have an Onsite Sewage Management (OSSM) system, such as:

  • septic tank
  • composting toilet
  • aerated system.

We have reviewed our Onsite Sewage Management System Strategy and Guidelines that have been in place since the early 2000's.

This involved benchmarking against best practice Onsite Sewage Management System policies throughout Australia and collaboration with key stakeholders.

Following consultation, the Onsite Sewage Management System Strategy and Guidelines were adopted in December 2024.

On-site sewage management and septic tanks

Review of floodplain management in north Byron Shire

In 2023 we asked for feedback to help us review flood mitigation options in the adopted North Byron Floodplain Risk Management Study and Plan (2020).

In 2022, flooding caused extensive damage to many properties in the north of the Byron Shire, especially in the Marshalls Creek catchment that includes:

  • Ocean Shores
  • Billinudgel
  • New Brighton
  • South Golden Beach. 

With a grant from the Local Government Flood Recovery Fund, specialist consultants JBP Pacific undertook a review of floodplain management with a focus on the north of the Byron Shire.

Next steps

Your feedback helped to inform the review assessment of potential flood mitigation options.

This report will underpin the next update to the North Byron (Brunswick River Catchment) Flood Study and associated Floodplain Risk Mitigation and Plan updates.

The update is subject to obtaining state funding from the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water. 

The next funding round is open in May 2025, where Council funds a third and the State two thirds of the total. 

Why are we reviewing current flood management plans and studies?

The North Byron Floodplain Risk Management Study and Plan (2020) were developed using best practice hydrology and hydraulic floodplain models.

The current plan and all prior adopted plans and studies for the northern region will now be reviewed as part of this project. 

We want to make sure that the process and measures that we implement to manage flood risk are based on best practice and the best data. 

Why aren't other areas of the shire included in the review?

Mullumbimby is not a part of this project because the pattern of flooding in the town is very different to those areas closer to the coast. 

Separate funding has been obtained to investigate flooding issues for other areas of the shire including:

  • Mullumbimby
  • Bangalow
  • Suffolk Park

updated Flood Risk Management Study and Plans for both Belongil and Tallows Creek catchments. 

Short-term rental accommodation Planning Proposal

Short-term rental accommodation is also known as STRA or holiday letting.

The NSW Government has endorsed the change for non hosted holiday letting to 60 days per year for most of the Shire.  

Some areas in Byron Bay and Brunswick Heads will be able to operate without a cap on holiday letting, for 365 days per year. Maps for these areas are available on the NSW Dept Planning portal website.

When will the new STRA rules start?

There will be a 12-month transition period for the community and industry to prepare.  The new day caps will take effect on 23 September 2024. Up until 23 September 2024, the existing STRA regulations remain in effect.

The changes do not affect hosted STRA. This is where the host, who can be the owner, tenant, or permanent resident, resides on the premises during the short term stay.

Council reports about the STRA proposal