For all its glitter and natural glory, the Byron Shire continues to have some significant holes in its basic public infrastructure.
Among the most glaring gaps relate to our two public swimming pools. We are the only local government area in the Northern Rivers without a pool that is open all year round, and the only shire without a public pool that is accessible for people with a disability or a significant mobility issue.
The wheels of government move slowly, but Byron Council is finally looking at a major overhaul of the Shire’s pools and is seeking public input into its plans. Its ideas are contained in the Byron Shire Aquatic Options Report, which is open for comment on Council’s website and via various pop-up stalls around the Shire.
The current preferred option, put forward by Council staff, is for the Byron Bay Memorial Pool to remain in its current location, and to undergo a significant redevelopment.
Challenges of Lot 22
Mullumbimby, on the other hand, would see the construction of a new pool complex. The most likely location would be on a piece of vacant land at the southern end of Stuart Street known as Lot 22.
Both locations would have new, accessible, eight-lane, solar-heated 50m pools for year-round use, and a smaller heated pool for swimming programs such as learn to swim and aquarobics.
There would also be a splash pad for the kids, a cafe, and accessible change rooms.
While there has been general approval for the features of the new aquatic centres, the location of the Mullumbimby facility has been less widely acclaimed.
In particular, the Lot 22 location is highly flood-prone, with Council having rejected the site as a housing location in the past because of this issue.
Byron’s newly-elected Mayor, Sarah Ndiaye, shares this concern. ‘I can’t support the Lot 22 plan because of the potential for flooding,’ Cr Ndiaye said. ‘Byron pool seems to me to have the most logical outcome for the upgrade.’
Despite these reservations, Mayor Ndiaye said that she was determined to see an accessible year-round pool in the Shire. ‘This is something I’m deeply passionate about and something we really miss out on,’ she said.
‘We’re lucky that we have two pools. They were both community-funded. But they’re out of date and they’re not fit for purpose for our community now.
‘People with disabilities shouldn’t miss out. Neither should people with mobility issues for whom being in the water is all they can do.
‘I would love to see everyone take part in the community consultation that’s taking place, even if you don’t use the pools at the moment. This is your chance to have your say on something that will be part of the Shire for many years to come.’
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