BYRON SHIRE Council has developed a new draft Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP) for some of Australia’s most iconic beaches from Cape Byron to Main Beach at Byron Bay.
The Eastern Precincts CZMP includes Main Beach, Clarkes Beach, The Pass, Wategos, Little Wategos and Cape Byron.
Byron Shire Council’s Coastal and Biodiversity Coordinator, Chloe Dowsett, said that while these beaches are famous tourist drawcards, they are also in an area that has a history of coastal erosion and large coastal storms and has been identified as undergoing long-term coastal recession.
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“As a result of pressures from population growth, development and tourism, a plan is needed to manage coastal hazards, maintain beach amenity and access, the natural environment and the social and cultural values of this much loved area of Byron’s coast,” Ms Dowsett said.
This Eastern Precincts CZMP does not include the Belongil area. In 2017, the Minister for the Environment, allowed Council to split the Byron Bay Embayment CZMP into two planning areas which are now known as the eastern and western precincts.
“One of the highest priorities of the Eastern Precincts CZMP is the upgrading of coastal protection works at Main Beach (Jonson St) to protect the Byron Bay town centre from coastal hazards and to improve beach access and amenity,” Ms Dowsett said.
“Council sees the Jonson St/Main Beach protection works as having a strong public benefit for the community, businesses and visitors because it will improve public safety, amenity and the aesthetics of this iconic area,” she said.
“Planning controls, dune management and the management of cultural and natural environmental values are also key cornerstones to the draft Eastern Precinct CZMP.
“Most importantly, the CZMP is accompanied by the Emergency Sub Action Plan which details what Council will do before, during and after a coastal erosion emergency in the eastern precinct area,” Ms Dowsett said.
The draft Eastern Precinct CZMP will be considered by the Byron Council at its meeting on 19 April 2018.
For more information contact Chloe Dowsett, Coastal and Biodiversity Coordinator, on 6626 7128.