Council’s Annual Report shows strong progress and results

Published on 07 December 2018

Road reconstruction, bridge and causeway upgrades, park and playground renewals and a range of strategic biodiversity and environmental management plans were just a few of the significant projects delivered over the last financial year in the Byron Shire.

Byron Shire Council’s General Manager Mark Arnold said the 2017/2018 Annual Report highlighted strong progress and achievement across the full spectrum of Council’s operations.

“The 2017/18 financial year was a particularly busy one for Council and I am pleased to see our hard work paying off.

“We have taken some big leaps forward to address the condition of our roads, as well as a range of other community infrastructure projects that have been a priority for our residents,” he said.

“Sixteen kilometres of road reseals were completed throughout the Shire, 1.3km of road reconstruction and $1.6 million was spent by Council on fixing potholes. Our total annual spending on road maintenance and capital works this year was $17 million and we are committed to keeping up the momentum.

“The rebuilding of degraded road along The Terrace in Brunswick Heads was completed in the last financial year, as was an upgrade to a section of road on Pine Avenue, Mullumbimby. 

“Neither of these works would have been achieved without the revenue raised via the Special Rate Variation.

“One of the worst sections of Broken Head Road was rebuilt, being a substantial improvement on what was there before. 

“Belongil Bridge also underwent major structural improvements as well as a much-loved rainbow paint job!" Mr Arnold said.

The Sunrise roundabout on Ewingsdale Road was completed and, with assistance from a $2.64 million grant from the Australian Government’s Building Better Regions Fund, with work on the new roundabout on Bayshore Drive and Ewingsdale Road getting underway, with an expected opening to traffic before Christmas.

Council was successful in attracting more than $11.6 million in grants in the last financial year thanks to strong support from all sectors of our community. There is an extensive list of projects that have benefited from this funding in the Annual Report. 

The community has also worked with our planning teams on the development of high level strategies including the Pest Animal Management Strategy, E Zones and the Rural Weddings and Events Strategy to name a few.

Work started on the development of the Bangalow Village Plan and continued on the implementation of works identified in the Byron Bay Town Centre Masterplan. These significant planning strategies will provide a good foundation for the future of these much-loved communities.

"In the last financial year, we focussed strongly on the way we engage with the community and this resulted in the completion of Our Byron Our Future – our 10 year Community Strategic Plan, as well as the innovative Community Solutions Panel which was a terrific success and is now informing our infrastructure priorities," Mr Arnold said.

“As a key touch point for the community, the Annual Report demonstrates accountability while keeping the community informed about the breadth of Council’s responsibilities and what has been achieved each financial year,” he said.

The Annual Report can be found on Byron Shire Council’s website www.byronshire.nsw.gov.au/annual-reports.

For more information contact Council’s Corporate Governance Officer, Heather Sills, on (02) 6626 7171.