The expansion of the Cavanbah sports centre in Byron Bay is well and truly on the agenda for 2025, with Byron Council set to allocate funds for the project in the first half of the year.
But it seems the expansion will not include a new hydrotherapy pool as had previously been discussed, with this aspect of the proposed project considered both unpopular and unworkable.
As local participation in court-based sports such as basketball and pickleball continues to boom, pressure is mounting on Byron Council to provide additional space for these activities in the Shire.
Earlier this month, Byron councillors voted unanimously to consider a 2025/26 budget allocation of $100,000 to allow for detailed design and costing of two additional internal courts at the Cavanbah Centre.
The meeting heard that, should the new courts be built, they would be suitable for a range of sports, facilitate large tournaments, and expand the possibility of other uses such as cultural events.
The Byron Bay Basketball Association was particularly keen for the new courts, as their regular competitions were bursting at the seams, the meeting heard.
‘They have a growing membership, and a really engaged and excited team of kids and adults who use the space at the Cavanbah regularly,’ Deputy Mayor Jack Dods (Independent) said.
‘They’re desperately needing, and could easily fill, an expansion to the east [of the centre].’
Council will also consider a budget allocation of $20,000 to fund a strategic review of the operations of the entire centre to assess how it can better meet the needs of users and the community.
This includes exploring the possibility of a pedestrian and cycle link between the centre and the Byron Arts and Industry Estate, and the idea of using land at the eastern periphery of the centre’s grounds for an all-day parking area to service the industrial estate.
However, plans to include the construction of a publicly accessible hydrotherapy pool as part of the Cavanbah expansion have hit the cutting room floor.
‘I know that was of particular interest to the previous Council,’ Cr Dods said.
‘However, as happens through community consultation, the community really want to retain the Mullum and Byron pools and to expand what’s on offer there, so for that reason a hydrotherapy pool isn’t really supported at the Cavanbah.’
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