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Byron Shire
June 21, 2026

Music venue for Byron Arts & Industry Estate?

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The property developer behind plans for a boutique cafe in the heart of the Byron A&I Estate is seeking to modify the proposal.

As locals were decorating their spray-free solstice trees late last year, Norfolk Byron Bay applied to modify their previously approved plans for 18 Banksia Drive.

The previous consent was for a mixed-use development, featuring a series of light industrial workshops and a small cafe that would sell artisan food and drinks made on the premises.

Open from 7am till midnight

The modification application, now on public exhibition via Byron Council’s website, proposes changing the opening hours to 7am till midnight, seven days a week, and having a capacity of up to 120 patrons.

The developer is also seeking planning permission to install a DJ booth and to play live, amplified music during its hours of operation.

This music would go into both the indoor and outdoor areas.

Norfolk and their consultants say they do not anticipate any adverse impacts on the natural or built environments from their modified proposal.

The application is supported by a Noise Impact Assessment (NIA) prepared by Tim Fitzroy & Associates.

Cumulative noise levels

The NIA concludes that ‘cumulative noise levels from all expected sources are predicted to meet the project’s noise trigger levels at all nearby commercial and residential receptors during all time periods’.

The developer also says that no additional parking is required, because there’s no net increase in floor area and that the cafe will be at its busiest on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights when other surrounding operations will be closed.

‘It is submitted that the parking spaces that are nominated for the site are satisfactory for the proposed operation,’ the planning company hired to undertake the modification application said. They also assert that the local road network ‘includes sufficient road widths to accommodate vehicular movements to and from the property’.

‘The proposal does not alter the approved vehicle entry, loading and parking arrangements and is not likely to create adverse traffic impacts in the locality,’ they state.

They conclude that ‘the modification results in a development that is substantially the same as that already approved within the property’.

The development modification application will remain on public exhibition until January 23, and can be viewed on Byron Council’s DA Tracker website by searching the following DA number: 10.2021.716.3.



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