THE ICONIC BYRON Community Market will return to its original home on the Byron Bay beachfront from May 2018 to allow for the development of the new Byron Bay bus interchange in the Butler Street Reserve and the construction of the Byron Bay bypass.
The market is one of the most popular monthly markets in the Northern Rivers and the Byron Shire Council and the Byron Community Centre (BCC) are confident that the temporary relocation to the beachfront will be well received by the community.
Byron Shire Mayor, Simon Richardson, said the market will move to the beachfront in May 2018 when the NSW Government starts work on the Byron Bay bus interchange.
“There are normally four markets a year held on the beachfront at Denning Park, between the Surf Club and Clarkes Beach, and they are strongly supported by the public,” Mayor Richardson said.
“Council will be working closely with stall holders and the BCC which manages the markets, to make sure the transition from Butler Street to the beachfront is smooth and this includes providing access to electricity and water,” he said.
“A key consideration is the impact of the markets on the foreshore area over the course of a year and Council and the BCC have both committed to working closely with the Green and Clean Dunecare group to develop a comprehensive Environmental Management Plan which will look at things like litter and the impact on the reserve,” Mayor Richardson said.
Paul Spooner, General Manager of the BCC, said the decision to temporarily relocate the market to the beachfront was a good outcome for stall holders and the community.
“The Byron Community Market is regarded by many as the best market in Australia and I have no doubt it will be as popular on the beachfront as it is in the Butler St Reserve,” Mr Spooner said.
“We will be working on a developing a Parking Management Plan for the beachfront area to make sure that traffic in that area is not adversely affected on market days,” he said.
Ananda Mcoscar from the North Coast Stallholders Association, said the temporary relocation to the beachfront was a good outcome for stall holders.
“Most of the stall holders have been working for years together and the most important thing for all of us is that we have a viable location for our markets and the beachfront is the perfect short-term option,” Mr Mcoscar said.
Byron Shire Council remains committed to the long-term future of the Byron Community Market and will be working with the BCC to find a long-term market site in the Byron Bay town centre.
“The new Byron Bay bus interchange and the town bypass will mean that the Butler Street Reserve will not be a prime market site in the future and it is Council’s intention to make sure that the new site is even better,” Mayor Richardson said.
For more information contact Simon Richardson, Byron Shire Mayor, on 0427 076 834 or Paul Spooner, General Manager Byron Community Centre, on 0434 771 510.
Green and Clean Dunecare are as a group very concerned at the plan for 18 markets a year at the Beach Reserve. We are opposed to this plan. We rejected the idea in 2014, nothing has changed.
There are so many reasons not to impose such a big event on the dunes, many environmental impacts, parking chaos, displacement of beach visitors, poor layout.
There needs to be a big effort to get the Butler St Reserve back as the market’s home, or in the Rail corridor as a second or interim option. However, the block layout at Butler St is really the best, long ‘river’ shapes dont work as well.
Likewise the idea that Butler St Reserve is the best place for a Bus Station. Local buses should be served at a small Bus Interchange on the east side of Butler St, and the Tourist Buses use a Transit Centre at the Industrial Estate – they dont need to come into town. Most passengers are getting onto mini vans to go to their hostel anyway.
Green & Clean are stakeholders in the Butler Street Reserve. We have planted trees there for many years (some of which Council cleared without consultation in the past) and we expect to be included in consultations. Byron Councillors, you are overseeing a massive grab of public reserves for tourism.
We say HALT and CONSULT!
Why are we rushing these decisions? We have heard about the bus station for 2 weeks, and are told its the only option, get real with your voters! Green space is not for sale, and not to be given away either!
Our community needs these reserves for many reasons, once they are built on or sealed, they are gone. Please review the options, as your current ideas are woeful,
Veda Turner
Coord. Green & Clean Dunecare