Donald Maughan, President BBHS
Like most, I’ve been watching the development of the new bus interchange on Butler Street, Byron Bay with a mixture of interest and concern.
As a representative of the Byron Bay Historical Society (BBHS), I recently had the chance to inspect the site prior to the official opening.
The amazing rebirthing of the old water tower is only a fraction of the Bay’s rail history being acknowledged on the site. Soon to be installed are seven, three-metre-plus recycled timber posts with wraparound embossed metal images conveying the rail’s historical features. This will complement a fifty-metre laser perforated metal diorama backing the passenger waiting bay.
With lush plantings appropriate to our region the landscaping around the interchange precinct has been designed to meld seamlessly into the soon-to-be-developed rail corridor adjoining our newly completed award-winning Railway Park.
I acknowledge that this development’s build has been a massive intrusion into the lives of those who live nearby and the disruption must have been significant.
We, Byron Shire residents, can be harsh critics of any development in our community, but when one comes along that really works and acknowledges our community’s rail history, I feel that we should be humble enough to acknowledge a job well done.
Sydney trains, TfNSW, and Byron Shire Council have taken a lot of criticism over this project; however, I feel that the majority of the residents of the Bay will be impressed with the outcome.
Byron Bay Historical Society are in negotiations with TfNSW on a project with the potential to extend the historical presentation in the precinct, which should further enhance and educate the hundreds of thousands of visitors to our town.
