Prior to September’s Council election, a key issue for voters was the future of Byron Bay’s Main Beach foreshore. All councillor candidates agreed, prior to the election, that more consultation/info was needed before making any decision (unlike Mullum’s local water supply).
Concept plans were presented by Council staff for public comment in late July, which included the removal, or partial removal, of the carpark around the pool and Fishheads restaurant.
That drew opposition from local surfers, who called instead to improve the beachfront areas east of the surf club.
A multi-storey carpark behind the pool and an upgrade of Apex Park were also proposed by Council staff to offset the loss of parking, along with the planned retreat (relocation) of the Beach Byron Bay cafe at Clarkes Beach.
Local landscape architect and urbanist, David Vago, provided The Echo with his vision for the foreshore, which is based largely on staff’s suggestions.
He’s branding it ‘Lets un-pave paradise and pull down a parking lot’.
David told The Echo his company Habit8 (www.habit8.com.au) were behind several high-profile Sydney revitalisation projects, including the Sydney Monorail Walkway, Bondi’s beachfront, and the transformation of Glebe Island into an outdoor music bowl.
Aquatic complex
The plans propose an aquatic complex with Olympic-standard heated pool facilities, replacing the existing pool and buildings.
He says, ‘The upper floor will feature a stylish restaurant, cocktail bar, and function area with a sweeping balcony offering breathtaking views of The Pass and sunsets over Wollumbin’.
‘The building’s roof will be covered with solar panels and vegetation, ensuring the facility is environmentally sustainable’.
Replacing the carpark would be open space, an outdoor gym and exercise area and a ‘playground themed around First Nations culture and the unique aquatic environment of Byron Bay’.
Amphitheatre
‘A formal sandstone amphitheatre named the “Amp-Sea Theatre” will provide a new venue for community gatherings, events, and performances’, Vago says.
“Amp-Sea Theatre” – groan!
Is anyone still asking what people who actually live in Byron Bay want? Like so many others, I just love to sit in that car park in front of the pool and stare out at the water. I can do this when it’s baking hot or pouring rain. I can just chill and take in the ambiance. It’s wonderful medicine for my mental health. I don’t need a fancy cocktail bar or upmarket restaurant that you can only sit in you have the money to match the asking price on the menu. I remember “Beach” when it was simply called the beach cafe and we could sit on the bench seats, sand under our feet and just have a coffee with the best view ever. Now only diners who can afford their expensive meals get to sit there. Our families don’t all have a house on Belongil or Wategos or a fabulous view from their home on Patterson Hill, which I certainly don’t begrudge… however I don’t think I’m alone in saying that ‘I love that bloody carpark’. Does what makes Byron – Byron really need ‘improving’ ? Or is it just ripping the heart out of the place in the name of gentrification.
we should be tearing development down in that area and leaving it for the rising seas that will come soon, why spend millions on something that will wash into the ocean ? this is sacred aboriginal land as well!
Well said.
That looks pretty cool. Nothing could be worse than the current ugly car park. The surf will be less crowded without all the drive by surf checkers
I’m a disabled person ( partial paraplegia) who’s more often than not only close view of the seafront at Byron where I have lived most of my life is the beach front car park where I can sit in my car when not able to walk into the park due to my condition.
I regularly get great pleasure swinging by this area. Take it away and I and I’m sure many others will lose this pleasure.
Their are very few places one can view the sea closeup from the car in this area.
Tourism rules hey.
Not really about you though is it?
No it’s certainly NOT about the 16,000 local ratepayers who will be paying for a multi-story carpark (how many millions will it cost?) for tourists. It’s not 36,000 Byron locals causing traffic/parking problems in our towns. How much will our rates go up to pay for all this Gold Coast style development?
Be much cheaper to demand the state government stop and council destroying our multi-million-dollar train line for a dirt track for cycling tourists and get the trains running instead. Most people can walk to everything from the train station. As the secretary of the Rail Train and Bus Union said, with explosion of population and 3.6 million tourists to Byron it’s beyond crazy to be spending multi millions to jam MORE planet destroying guzzlers in our towns rather than spend less on a train service!!
Putting the pool in the morning, and the beachfront grass area in the afternoon, in shade , gold coast style, no thanks – “The upper floor will feature a stylish restaurant, cocktail bar, and function area with a sweeping balcony offering breathtaking views of The Pass and sunsets over Wollumbin’.”
This is just one of the beachfront areas that the non community representative Byron Masterplan proposes to redevelop for commercial activity (The others are the First Sun caravan park, and the car park between – flagged for a multi storey car park – to be sold to a comercial operator?)