Council close to negotiating licence on rail land in Mullumbimby

Council is getting close to signing a licence with the NSW Government to secure the future use of land in the rail corridor on the fringe of Mullumbimby’s central business area.

For several years Council has been negotiating with the NSW Government for approval to use some of the land at the back of Station Street to provide public parking and a new community open space and amenities.

The land runs along the railway line, between Station Street and Prince Street, and has been fagged as a key area for revitalisation and use in the Mullumbimby Masterplan.

“We have been working with the NSW Government on this since the signing of a Memorandum of

Understanding.

“The land was identifed in the Mullumbimby Masterplan as having potential for parking and other community uses,”

Byron Shire Mayor, Michael Lyon (pictured), said.

“The land, which does not include the temporary housing village, is close to the main street and will provide much needed periphery parking for the town.

“Importantly, it is only a short walk from there to all the shops and facilities in the town centre,” Mayor Lyon said.

“If people can park along the existing rail line I am confdent that this will see less cars trawling along Burringbar Street, trying to fnd the elusive parking spot.

“Securing the land will also be a signifcant plus for the rail trail in the Byron Shire, boosting our funding application because we will be able to show that we manage what will be one of the key features of the trail – the entrance to Mullumbimby,” Mayor Lyon said.

Negotiations with NSW Government are ongoing, but Council is hopeful the licence will be issued by the end of the year.

Community Consultation Opens on Place Plan for New Brighton, South Golden Beach, and Ocean Shores

Over the next 12 months, Byron Shire Council will work with the community to create the frst Place Plan (also known as a masterplan) for New Brighton, South Golden Beach, and Ocean Shores. The Council encourages everyone who calls this area home to get involved and have their say.

The purpose of the Place Plan is to develop a strategic set of principles, visions, themes, and actions related to character and streetscape upgrades, environment, transport and access, planning controls, resilience, safety and emergency preparedness, and events and community building.

The frst round of community consultation is open until Friday, September 6.

“Now’s the time for people who live in New Brighton, South Golden Beach, and Ocean Shores to tell us what they love about where they live, what their vision is for the future, and what improvements they’d like to see happen,”

New flight paths into Ballina

2025 around Ballina Airport, you may notice changes to flight paths in your local area

We would like your feedback on our preliminary design.

For in-person workshops, please register via Council’s webpage: www.byron.nsw.gov.au/ nso-place-plan

• Thursday, 15 Aug, 6pm to 9pm –South Golden Beach Community Hall

• Friday, 16 Aug, 10am to 1pm – South Golden Beach Community Hall

• Sunday, 18 Aug, 1pm to 4pm – Ocean Shores Community Hall

Staff will also be available for chats at the New Brighton Farmers Markets and Ocean Shores Shopping Centre during August, or you can provide feedback anytime via Council’s website.

Byron Shire Mayor Michael Lyon said.

“This frst consultation is open for a month, and staff are running three community workshops over the coming weeks to open up discussion, get ideas fowing, and hopefully formulate some consensus on what people would like to achieve in the future,” the Mayor added.

To join any of these

“New Brighton, South Golden Beach, and Ocean Shores all have their unique identities, which is why this Place Plan will include the development of three individual character statements, visions, and sets of priority actions refecting the values and focus areas for each community,” Mayor Lyon said.

“Creating an overarching Place Plan allows us to collectively address issues that affect all three localities, understand challenges holistically, and develop better solutions and outcomes centred around community desires.”

The Place Planning process will run for approximately 12 months. As part of this process, Council will engage key stakeholders, including community groups, schools, businesses, and other local organizations, to provide guidance on local issues and increase engagement.

The community will be invited to provide feedback on a draft of the Place Plan once it’s prepared, with a fnal plan due to Council before the end of June 2025.

Once adopted, Place Plans will provide Council and the community with a set of priority actions for each community, helping to inform and secure funding and investment for future projects.

For more information, to register for a community workshop, or to submit your ideas online, visit www.byron. nsw.gov.au/nso-placeplan.