Byron Council Mayor Sarah Ndiaye (Greens) says 2025 was ‘a massive year for Byron Shire Council with the delivery of more millions of dollars’ worth of projects that will have long-lasting benefits for the community and environment’.
In a media release, she said, ‘One of the highlights was the opening of the restored Sandhills Wetlands at Byron Bay, one of the most significant environment projects we have done in recent years’.
‘The site was sand mined in the 1960s and then left in a terribly degraded state and now it’s been restored to wetlands once again.
‘This project will deliver incredible benefits to the community for so many years to come.
‘The wetlands are naturally filtering water and improving water quality before it hits the ocean and they also act as a retention basin to help reduce flash flooding during heavy rain.
‘Already the birds, wallabies and other wildlife are returning and this area that was so degraded 18 months ago is already becoming established as important habitat.
‘Staff have also powered on to deliver some major road project with the $5.3 million upgrade of Mullumbimby Road topping that list.
‘It was such a difficult project for Council and the community, but now that road is more flood-resilient, drainage is much improved and it’s generally safer for everyone’ she said.
Yet that project was heavily criticised by the public for its lack of transparency and proposed impact on the town and businesses. A well-attended protest at Byron Council chambers was organised by the chamber of commerce to highlight those impacts.
‘Another project delivered was the $2.7 million upgrade of South Beach Road at Brunswick Heads.
‘That road was in terrible condition and the improvements have really transformed the area for locals and visitors,’ Mayor Ndiaye said.
‘There’s ongoing work happening on Station Street in Mullumbimby, the major Byron Bay drainage project is well underway, and our Flood Recovery team is managing work valued at more than $112 million’, she said.
Large scale opposition
Again, Mayor Ndiaye did not mention the large scale opposition to the development of Station Street, with many residents and businesses saying is an example poor planning; lacks transparency; and comes with unanswered questions.
She went on, ‘The work we are doing on Wilsons Creek Road in particular is absolutely life changing for those residents with $15 million being spent on land slip remediations and culvert replacements’.
‘We have upgraded Heritage Park in Mullumbimby, done significant weed removal and drainage work at Waterlily Park at Ocean Shores and there’s a new entry and pathways at Linda Vidler Park at Suffolk Park.
‘My sincere thanks to the community for their patience during any disruptions and of course to the staff who work so hard to deliver these important projects,’ Mayor Ndiaye said.
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