The Byron Town Centre Masterplan has taken out a state award at the recent Australia Institute of Landscape Architects.
The annual awards recognise the leadership and innovation in landscape architecture projects that enrich the environments and enhance the state’s liveability, economic development and global profile.
Mayor Simon Richardson said it was a very satisfying achievement that involved a great many people within the shire.
“We can confidently say that this was a project that was embraced by our residents as we set out to ensure that the Byron Bay Town Centre Masterplan captured the voice, vision and identity of our residents,” he said.
‘The Masterplan has given us a strong community plan which shows how we want the Byron Bay town centre to look, feel and move.
“Our future landscape and social values will remain strong under the guidance of the Masterplan and the soon to be formed community governance group,” he said.
The Byron Bay Town Centre Masterplan took out the Communities category of the Australia Institute of Landscape Architects. The entry needed to demonstrate engagement, recognition and interpretation of the communities’ values.
The top category award puts the Masterplan in the running for the National Awards later in the year.
Mayor Simon Richardson said it was a great reflection of the hard work council, the Bounce Group, community and the consultant team put into the project and a testament to the quality of work produced.
The jury citation noted, “Byron Bay Town Centre Masterplan sets a new benchmark for delivering an engaging place-based approach to revitalisation of regional town centres.”
The Byron Shire Town Centre Masterplan was recently adopted by council and a number of exciting projects are already being developed.
The first initiatives to flow from the Masterplan are seven place making initiatives that will transform underutilised public places and laneways through beautification, creativity and people; plus the reconstruction of Byron Street linking pedestrians to Butler Street across the disused rail corridor and the activation of Railway and the rail corridor precinct.
“Watch this space. The projects are fantastic,” mayor Richardson said.
For four decades The Echo has printed the stories some people loved, some people hated, and some pretended not to read. If you want us to keep telling the truth, the real truth, not the sugar-coated version. We’ll need your support to keep the presses rolling. 
