The ‘mini’ bypass: I have to call Council’s bluff on this one as it is the only way to make sense of such nonsense. Public meetings have been held, the serious concerns about – even impossibility of – this scheme has been expressed by many in the community. Apparently a project reference group, a PRG, has been formed without any notice or inclusion of the most seriously affected residents and businesses along the proposed route.
No, the ‘mini’ bypass is a fantasy and it must remain so but if it gets the very serious matter of a proper traffic management solution for Byron Bay on the agenda at state and federal levels then it has its purpose.
Every seriously affected tourist destination, city or town around the world is trying to reduce vehicular circulation in the town centre; to create a secondary entry that dumps traffic right in the centre of town is ridiculous.
Byron Bay has the enviable circumstance of being a pedestrian- and cycle-friendly township and should be more so. To build a large roundabout at the Marvell/Jonson St intersection and main road through a busy pedestrian precinct around and across the railway land will destroy this amenity.
Byron Bay is desperate for vehicle parking; the proposed route of the ‘mini’ bypass will seriously reduce space in Byron’s largest free parking zone – The Rails carpark – close to the backpacker’s mini-van pick-up and the bus station.
Businesses will be so impacted upon that they would be forced to close, not to mention the affect on Byron’s principal heritage area, the Railway Cottage and Tourist Information Centre, which may have to be relocated entirely.
Butler Street is a very busy pedestrian and vehicle precinct on market days; any bypass along this route should naturally be avoided.
One wonders where this green council is at. Do they fully understand the ramifications of this idea or are they just playing politics? Richard Staples came up with the original ‘mini’ bypass suggestion but Richard, it doesn’t pass scrutiny and will be so destructive.
Fast Buck$ was the first to nominate the existing railway corridor as the logical bypass solution for the town. Fast Buck$, we need you back on their heels – go get ’em.
Paul Jones, Byron Bay
