Byron Shire Council wins two prestigious NSW Awards

Published on 08 June 2023

Byron Shire Council has been recognised for showing compassion, care and innovation at the 2023 LG Professionals NSW Awards.

Council won two categories of the prestigious awards.

The Mullum Flood Recovery Centre was the winner of the Community Partnerships award. 

The Main and Clarkes Beach Dune Recovery project took the honours in the Environmental Leadership category.

Byron Shire Mayor, Michael Lyon, said the awards were well deserved recognition for the amazing work being done by Council staff and the Mullumbimby and District Neighbourhood Centre.

“To see this recognition for the Mullum Flood Recovery Centre is so deserved,” Mayor Lyon said.

“The centre, that was set up at the Mullumbimby Civic Hall, provided people with support, information, resources and access to state, federal and other agencies and organisations working in the recovery area,” he said.

“It’s an award that recognises the amazing work of not just our staff, but everyone involved including the Mullumbimby and District Neighbourhood Centre whose staff and volunteers make an incredible difference to our community every day.

“From March to August last year support was provided at the Recovery Centre to people and businesses on more than 8,000 occasions, in an environment that was safe, nurturing and reflective of our special community,” Mayor Lyon said.

Chloe Dowsett, Coordinator of Coast and Biodiversity accepted the award for Environmental Leadership which recognised the success of the Main and Clarkes Beach Dune Recovery project.

“Just over six months ago we brought in heavy equipment to move sand from the tidal zone up the beach to artificially rebuild the badly eroded sand dunes,” Ms Dowsett said.

“This sort of sand scraping project mimics the work done by nature, but much more quickly and the impact on the dunes has been very positive with native vegetation growing, wildlife returning and the dune system continuing to rebuild.

“Severe beach erosion like we recently experienced at Byron Bay’s Main Beach is a natural process and it has been so rewarding to see this success of this recovery project,” Ms Dowsett said.

“It is just terrific to see the innovative work of Council acknowledged at such prestigious awards which are a showcase of some of the best work being done at local government level in NSW,” Mayor Lyon said.

...ends