Second half of Bayshore Dr Roundabout underway

Published on 11 October 2018

The new roundabout on Ewingsdale Rd is well underway and contractors, SEE Civil Pty Ltd, have switched the traffic and have started work on the second half of the roundabout.

This means there are changes to traffic movements on Ewingsdale Road and Bayshore Drive  and Council appreciates the understanding of drivers using this busy road.

This roundabout is a major piece of infrastructure for the Byron Shire and Council has been fortunate to have received a grant of $2.6 million from the Australian Government’s Building Better Regions fund to allow us to undertaken this project said Byron Shire Council’s General Manager, Mark Arnold.

“When finished this new roundabout will have enormous benefits for everyone who visits and works in the Arts and Industrial estate, because the current intersection is difficult to negotiate,” Mr Arnold said.

“This roundabout has been designed to be big enough to cater for the future and this includes a small, 12m southern leg and some people in the community are automatically assuming this means Council is supporting the development of the West Byron area,” he said.

“I would like to assure people that this is not the case and Councillors have been very forthright in their opposition to two proposed developments which are currently being assessed by the NSW Government’s Joint Regional Planning Panel,” Mr Arnold said.

Regardless of the West Byron DAs, Council has the opportunity now, with the construction of this new roundabout, to provide a piece of connecting infrastructure should it be needed in five, 10 or 20 years time.

“If we don’t add the connection now, when we have the chance, there will be additional costs at a later date,” Mr Arnold said.

“Our ratepayers have expectations that we will not squander their money and this is prudent financial management to undertake this work when we have the chance.

“Regardless of whatever development proposals are on the table at the moment, the reality is that the land at West Byron is privately owned and  zoned for residential and industrial purposes and to not install a 12m slab of concrete to the side of the roundabout now to save money in the future would be a costly mistake,” Mr Arnold said.

For more information about the Bayshore Drive Roundabout call Josh Winter on 6626 7000 or go to Council’s website www.byron.nsw.gov.au.