Byron Shire Council is currently seeking community feedback on the closure of part of 35 Bayside Way, Brunswick Heads – a former Crown road that locals say provides a link from Bayside to Simpsons Creek.
The proposed closure is related to the ten-lot subdivision at 35 Bayside Way that has led to the developer footing the bill for the former Crown road to be transferred into Council ownership. It is currently classified as Council public road reserve.
Locals contacted The Echo saying that they saw this route as an important current and future access point to Simpsons Creek for the people of Bayside and the broader community.
‘There are only two access points left,’ Coda from Save Wallum told The Echo.
‘There is an access point at the eastern end of the Wallum development where you have to walk to end of the Crown road at Wallum. At that end Clarence security guards are discouraging people from going down there, implying that it is part of the Wallum development lot.’
Another local Holly Galbraith said, ‘Where I live on Omega Circuit, we used to have direct access to Simpsons Creek, but Clarence Property closed that over a year ago. In the original approval for Wallum a whole bunch of land was to be provided to the community, but in subsequent DAs that was removed.’
Keep public access?
Holly said that she had been in contact with Council, who had told her about, and provided maps of the Bayside access which they are currently seeking feedback on closing.
‘This is one of the last access routes to Simpsons Creek from Bayside.’
A spokesperson for Council told The Echo, ‘Council is now seeking feedback on the future status and use of the road reserve, as outlined in the public notice. No decision has been made to close, dispose of, or sell the land.’
‘Regarding access to Simpsons Creek, Council is aware that residents currently use several informal access points in the broader Bayside/Simpsons Creek area. However, the creek is NOT accessible by this section of unconstructed road.
‘One of the purposes of the road closure consultation process is to identify whether the land is required for current or future public access or road purposes, and any submission raising concerns about access would be considered as part of that assessment.’
Currently a ‘private road’ sign is placed at the beginning of the road however, Council confirmed with The Echo that, ‘the road reserve remains public road and is currently not a private road’.
Your say
You can provide feedback until Friday, 8 May on whether you think this road should be closed or remain open to the public at: www.byron.nsw.gov.au/Council/Report-Requests-Feedback/Public-Notices/Proposed-road-closure-Bayside-Way-Brunswick-Heads.
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