Main Beach Shoreline Project - have your say on 7 concept designs

Published on 11 November 2020

Byron Shire Council is holding a month-long consultation to gather the community’s feedback on a series of concept designs that aim to protect the Byron Bay town centre from coastal erosion and climate change impacts.

The Main Beach Shoreline Project consultation will be open from 11 November until 9 December, 2020 – and everyone is encouraged to get online and have a say, or contact Council for a hard copy survey.

“We’ve prepared seven concept designs that depict a wide-range of different protection structures and scenarios along Main Beach,” Council’s Coast, Biodiversity and Sustainability Coordinator, Chloe Dowsett said.

“The seven options include everything from simply improving the structure as is to redesigning or removing groynes, to building a stepped concrete sea wall or a sloping rock seawall, or moving the entire structure more landward,” Ms Dowsett said.

“The options are presented in a survey and the community’s responses will help us identify what people value most about the Main Beach shoreline and what, if any, improvements they’d like to see made to the shoreline protection structure. We’ve seen the impacts of natural coastal erosion most recently on Clarkes beach and the science is telling us what is coming with climate change.

We think now is the time to have the conversation with our community so that we have the best plan possible in place – one that can protect our community assets and the Town Centre, and enhance access and safety to this very special, iconic and internationally renowned Australian beach,” Ms Dowsett said.

The Main Beach Shoreline Project is focused on modifying the protection works at Main Beach which are degraded and in poor condition.  At the same time, the project seeks to improve public safety, access and amenity of the Main Beach area. Any long-term improvement of the foreshore area and linkages between different spaces is dependent on the design of the protection structure and its alignment.

“This project has the ability to achieve great outcomes for the community such as increased public access along or over the structure to the beach, suitable disability access and vehicle access for the Surf Lifesaving Club.  It could also present opportunities for a boardwalk or pathway to be built on the structure and for improved recreational facilities along the foreshore,” she said.

“These seven concept designs are the result of extensive studies undertaken over the last 6-12 months. In order for the project to progress, we need to get from 7 concepts to 3 before we undertake more detailed assessment and scientific modelling in the next phase of the project and move towards our assessment of the most suitable option.

Council resolved to look at an eighth concept which considered constructing recreational areas on a piled platform above the beach in combination with a buried seawall.

This concept was thoroughly assessed against the project’s criteria and objectives and was not considered feasible for the project.  Information about the eighth concept and its assessment can be viewed on Council’s YourSay page: www.yoursaybyronshire.com.au/mbsp

“Once we have a decision on the future position of the structure, Council can look more closely at the key projects identified in the Byron Bay Town Centre Masterplan and begin to plan for the integration of the coastal protection works, recreational areas, natural areas and pedestrian connection,” Ms Dowsett said.

“We have a smart and engaged community who we’re now calling on to review the key design features and proposed concept designs and give us their opinion.  We want to know what people value about this space, how they use it and how they’d ideally like to see improved for the future,” she said.

The Main Beach Shoreline project survey is online at www.yoursaybyronshire.com.au/mbsp

For more information contact Council’s Coast, Biodiversity and Sustainability Coordinator, Chloe Dowsett on 6626 7128.