Main Beach Shoreline Project

Main Beach, Byron Bay is in the heart of our coastal landscape.

The Main Beach Shoreline project looks at how we can best protect Byron Bay from coastal erosion. 

The existing coastal protection structure between the First Sun Holiday Park and the Byron Bay Surf Life Saving Club was designed in the 1960s. The structure is degraded and needs improvement.

We engaged Bluecoast Consulting Engineers in 2019 to investigate options for modification of the coastal protection structure to improve:

• Coastal protection
• Public safety
• Access and use of the foreshore and beach.

Investigations for the best solution has been undertaken since 2019. This includes community consultation on what people value most about the Main Beach shoreline and option designs.

Where are we now?

At the 27 April 2023 Council meeting, Council noted the findings of Bluecoast’s Technical Assessment Report(PDF, 15MB) and shortlisted 3 options to proceed to further evaluation and determination of the preferred option.

The three shortlisted options are:

• Option 2 – Berm rock revetment and pathway.
• Option 5 – Protective structure moved landward by 10m.
• Option 7 – Existing structure upgraded to contemporary standards.

View the options below and read more about them in the Main Beach Shoreline report to Council

View the shortlisted options

Option 2 – berm rock revetment and pathway

Option 5 – protective structure moved landward by 10m

Option 7 – existing structure upgraded to contemporary standards

Protection works currently in place

The Jonson Street Protections Works runs along the foreshore between the Main Beach Surf Lifesaving Club and the First Sun Holiday Park. It is next to Apex Park, playground, car park and Memorial Pool. 

The structure comprises a main groyne located next to the car park and two smaller groynes near First Sun Holiday Park and Apex Park.

The majority of the structure is made of rock of various sizes. 

Technical reports and assessments

• Glossary of Terms(PDF, 395KB)(PDF, 395KB)
• Bluecoast Capability Statement(PDF, 416KB)(PDF, 416KB)
• Bluecoast Proposal and Scope of Work(PDF, 5MB)(PDF, 5MB)
• Main Beach Shoreline Project Condition Assessment(PDF, 6MB)(PDF, 6MB)
• Main Beach Shoreline Project – Baseline Assessment Report(PDF, 6MB)(PDF, 6MB)
• Main Beach Shoreline Project - Concept Design Development - Report(PDF, 2MB)(PDF, 2MB)
• Main Beach Shoreline Project - Technical Report Modelling and Geomorphology Assessment(PDF, 15MB)(PDF, 15MB)