Byron Shire Council says that the wooden bus shelter on Jonson Street outside the Byron Visitors Centre is being removed today with all bus services operating from the new bus interchange on Butler Street in Byron Bay.
A Council release said that the Jonson Street bus stop was decommissioned by Transport for NSW last week when it opened the $8.4m Butler Street bus interchange which was designed to shift transport services out of Jonson Street.
Byron Shire Council’s Acting Manager Major Projects, Chris Soulsby said that with the new bus interchange now in operation, Council will dismantle and remove the wooden shelter at the Jonson Street bus stop which was built by Council as a temporary structure in 1995 awaiting construction of a permanent interchange,’
‘We are removing the shelter because the bus stop is no longer operational and we don’t want people turning up there or dropping their kids off thinking a bus service will be arriving.
‘By removing the structure we are clearly indicating that the interchange on Butler Street is where you need to go to catch a bus.
A hotspot for anti-social behaviour
‘Removal of the shelter structure will also help us reduce the risk of it becoming a hotspot for anti-social behaviour and will open up better pedestrian access in this busy area,’ said Mr Soulsby.
The bus shelter, which served as a landmark to both residents and visitors, has seen many take to the Council’s Facebook page to air their thoughts on the deconstruction, with one poster commenting: ‘End of an era. I remember getting interstate buses to and from there in the 90s. Often getting off the bus to copious amounts of pot being smoked and music being played in the park.’ Another posted: ‘Why can’t the homeless keep using it? Some of them could certainly do with a break and some shelter on a cold wet night and they’ve often packed up and gone in the mornings to leave that beautiful Byron facade for everyone to enjoy.’
Most are wondering why the shelter couldn’t have just stayed where it was.
Plans are underway to upgrade the site surrounding the Visitor Information Centre with landscaping, seating, bicycle racks and access pathways.
These works are scheduled for completion by July 2021, weather permitting.
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