Council wanting feedback about parking at Broken Head

Published on 08 January 2021

With an average of 1,880 vehicles a week using Broken Head Reserve Road and 365 travelling on Seven Mile Beach Road there’s no escaping that the area is a popular go-to for swimmers, surfers, cyclists and people just wanting to have a look. 

The increase in traffic, coupled with narrow roads, no footpaths, pedestrians and a sensitive environment are creating safety concerns for local residents and Council.

With a view to change parking layouts and improve the condition of roads, Council has been working with two stakeholder groups at Broken Head on developing draft locality plans for Broken Head Reserve Road and Seven Mile Beach Road.

Phil Holloway, Director Infrastructure Services, said the plans will be of interest to Byron Shire residents, as well as regular visitors to the area.

The draft Broken Head Reserve Road Locality Plan looks at three different parking layouts which all aim to formalise parking spaces, provide for the future introduction of pay parking and address pedestrian safety with the introduction of footpaths.  This plan has the broad consensus from residents and stakeholders.

The draft Seven Mile Beach Road Locality Plan looks at how to make the narrow, 4.6km dirt road safer, canvassing options such as sealing the road from Kings Beach to the end of the road at Seven Mile Beach and formalising parking spaces at Brays, Whites and Seven Mile Beaches. 

Residents and stakeholders on Seven Mile Beach Road have not been able to agree on a preferred option.

“The increase in popularity of the Broken Head area has sky-rocketed in recent years and this is expected to continue in the future,” Mr Holloway said.

“Both roads are crowded and busy especially on weekends and holidays and these locality plans will go some way to providing local residents with some relief and also make parking easier for visitors,” he said.

“Council will be looking at the viability of installing pay parking on Broken Head Reserve Road in the future and residents of Byron Shire who have pay parking permits will be able to park in the area for free but will have to abide by the time limits.

“As Seven Mile Beach Road is a Council-managed road in the Broken Head Nature Reserve, any decision to implement pay parking will be made in partnership with NPWS as manager of that area.

A survey canvassing feedback on the proposals to change parking layouts and make road improvements is currently open.

The Broken Head Parking and Traffic Management survey is available on the Your Say Byron Shire website until 15 February 2021.

The information from the survey will be used to finalise the plans which will be presented to Council for endorsement.

For media enquiries contact Annie Lewis, Media and Communications Coordinator, on 6626 7320.