Consultations completed in 2024

The Bangalow Streetscape Materials Design Guide aims to support the village keeping it's heritage character.

The guide looks at the materials and treatments to be used when doing future work in public spaces.

In 2023, we requested feedback on the draft Bangalow Streetscape Materials Design Guide.

All feedback was reported to Council on 28 March 2024 where the document was adopted.

You can review the adopted Bangalow Streetscape Materials Guide and the associated yron Shire Development Control Plan (DCP) 2014, Part E, Chapter E2 Bangalow chapter on our Development Control Plan 2014 webpage.

In July 2024 we asked Bangalow residents and businesses for their feedback on a plan to replace nine trees, over approximately five years, in Byron Street and Station Street, Bangalow. 

This project is called the Bangalow Street Tree Succession Plan.

A report detailing feedback from the public was presented to Council on 15 August 2024.

The Council supported the Succession Plan but two Liquidambar trees in Station Street will now be removed as part of stage one.

The removal and replacement of the trees is expected to take place before June 2025. 

In late 2022 we consulted with the community on a proposal to develop a wildlife corridor system.

A wildlife corridor is an area that links habitats, creating a pathway for native animals to move through. These links keep plant and animal populations connected, so that they can breed, migrate, disperse seeds, and seek safety.

All feedback was reported to Council at 7 December 2023 planning meeting, along with a report to amend Byron Development Control Plan DCP 2014 Biodiversity and Tree Management chapters to reflect the mapping.

Council's adopted the Wildlife Corridor Mapping 2023 and agreed to progress amending controls in Byron DCP 2014.

For more information visit Wildlife Corridors

• View Wildlife Corridor Mapping feedback report to 7 December 2023 meeting
• View DCP 2014 amendments report to 7 December 2023 meeting 

Changes for artisan food and drink

The proposed changes were adopted by Council and become effective 13 December 2024.

The changes include new rules for the artisan food and drink industry in appropriate locations, including support with carparking and bicycle spaces.

These changes appear in:

• Chapter B4 - Table B4.1 on page 15.
• Chapter D5 - pages 11 and 12.

Take a look at the latest Byron Shire DCP 2014

Chapter E5 

Council received a request to amend Chapter E5 Certain locations in Byron Bay and Ewingsdale, of the Byron Development Control Plan (DCP) 2014.

Key proposed changes included:

• Controls for design and sustainability of future dwellings to respond to the environmentally sensitive site.
• A control to prohibit the keeping of cats and dogs within the area.
• A control to limit the building footprint for each dwelling.

Consultation closed on 23 February 2024.

All feedback was reported to Council on 18 April 2024.

• Read Council's decision as Res 24-170 in the meeting minutes.
• Review the amended DCP chapter on our Development Control Plan 2014 webpage. 

Chapters B1 – Biodiversity and B2 – Tree and Vegetation Management

Early in 2024 we asked for feedback on changes to the Byron Development Control Plan (DCP) 2014 Chapters B1 – Biodiversity and B2 – Tree and Vegetation Management. 

The changes were made to:

• Show our Wildlife Corridor Map
• Address planning and assessment matters.

The review identified a number of improvements were needed in the DCP 2014 Biodiversity and Tree Management Chapters and Part A Preliminary.

Key Changes

• Removal of Wildlife Corridors as a red flag, to allow the wildlife corridor map to be used to help prioritise and encourage wildlife habitat restoration, rather than unnecessarily constraining existing permitted land uses.
• Specific provisions for infill development in existing urban zones, including:
• Introduction of a clear definition.
• Amended requirements for ecological setbacks.
• Inclusion of additional performance criteria that prioritise avoiding and minimising development impacts and facilitate alternative solutions to improve biodiversity.
• Expansion of compensatory planting requirements to apply to development assessments, as well as tree and vegetation removal works that fall outside of the DA process.

Changes to the DCP structure

• Consolidating all definitions and Biodiversity Planning Principles into Part A,
• Deletion of duplicated or superseded legislation,
• Clarifying objectives, performance criteria, prescriptive measures and guidance notes.

Chapter B1 Biodiversity applies to development applications that involve the removal of high environmental value vegetation, or vegetation on land with sensitive attributes, such as waterways, ecological features, or cultural heritage.

Chapter B2 has been reassigned as Chapter F1 Tree and Vegetation Management as it applies when vegetation removal is sought outside of a development application process. A new Part F of DCP 2014 has been created for this purpose.  

In early 2024 we asked for feedback on various changes to Byron Local Environmental Plan (LEP) 2014.

Some of these changes followed a periodic review to ensure that planning controls are current and for for purpose.

Others related to:

• Proposal to permit unapproved dwelling at 114 Stewarts Road Clunes
• Planning Proposal 55 Settlement Road Main Arm

• Heritage Conservation in Brunswick Heads Amendment 44

The changes were finalised and are now published on the NSW Legislation website

The Sandhills wetland in Byron Bay is being restored.

An assessment of Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) of Sandhills Stormwater Management System was on public exhibition throughout December, January and closed on 19 February 2024.

At the 28 March 2024 meeting, Council approved the EIS for the wetlands, which is due to be completed in 2025.

In May 2024, we asked for your input on options for the off-leash dog area at Heritage Park Mullumbimby.

We received 81 survey responses.

Key themes were:

• Strong support to retain an off-leash area.
• Convenience and natural beauty of the park.
• In favour of dogs on lead along the main pathway.
• Strong support for the off-leash area to be in current unauthorised parking area.

As a result of the feedback collected, we are moving the dog off leash area to the eastern end of Heritage Park. These works started in September 2024.

For more information visit Heritage Park Mullumbimby Landscape Masterplan

Creating a safe and enriching environment for cats protects them from hazards and allows them to explore, play, and thrive.

As part of the Keeping Cats Safe at Home Project we asked cat owners to correctly answer a riddle to win a $500 voucher from Catnets!

Competition winners!

Congratulations to our winners. For those playing along, the answer was one. The winners are: 

• Angela Banovic
• Prana Arnold
• Lani Kennedy – who is generously donating her prize to a friend
• Fi Moon
• Alison Ratcliffe
• Margaret Salvaneschi
• Sarah Doherty
• Mary Bellenger
• Diane Roberts – who is generously donating her prize to Pets For Life Billinudgel
• Josh Angus.

Litter and illegal dumping have huge financial, social, and environmental costs. 

To reduce these impacts, we have developed a Litter and Illegal Dumping Prevention Strategy.

This has been developed through consultation with community and local organisations.

The Strategy was on exhibition during May 2024.

The Litter and Illegal Dumping Prevention Strategy was reported to Council and adopted in June 2024.

Environmental Strategies & Plans

We asked for feedback to help formalise names and boundaries of beaches along the Byron Shire coastline.

Of the 23 beaches in the Byron Shire, 11 do not have official names. This needs to be resolved for the NSW Geographical Names Board.

Official names for beaches and landmarks are important especially for emergency services when they are responding to a call for help.

Feedback closed on23 February 2023. We received more than 140 responses and staff are now working through the submissions.

A report of the names has been forwarded to the Geographical Names Board for gazettal.

Single-use and takeaway packaging makes up 40% of the litter found in our environment.

The Single-use Packaging and Materials Policy will help us to phase out unnecessary waste from our operations, facilities and open spaces.

The Policy was adopted in December 2023. Thanks to everyone who provided feedback. 

The Policy will be supported with guidelines, resources and investment in the necessary infrastructure to drive a switch from single-use to reusable alternatives. Watch this space for more information coming soon.

View the Single-use Packaging and Materials Policy

In early 2024, we asked for feedback on upgrading the Heritage Park playground in Mullumbimby with some new equipment and an improved shelter.

These upgrades are one of the first stages of delivering the Heritage Park Masterplan.

Following your feedback, we started works on constructing an accessible pathway through the park. In November 2024, works began on constructing some new play equipment and a family shelter. 

Key themes from the consultation

• General support for the draft design.
• The informal play features were well liked.
• There were requests for smaller items for younger children.
• Removal of unofficial carpark to make area safer.
• New dog area away from playground.
• Future nearby toilets.

New play equipment 

The new equipment is aimed at improving the play experience for the 6 to 12-year-olds.

A 4-meter-high climbing net offers views over the park with more challenging balancing ropes, elevated platforms and climbing features. 

There will also be more natural and repurposed materials such as boulders, logs, rocks, steppers or plants to facilitate nature-based and imaginative play. 

The existing play equipment will remain.

New family friendly shelter

The upgrades will also provide a new family friendly shelter and extra seating.

The existing table setting will remain.