The upgrade to Byron Bay's town centre drainage system will begin next week. From Monday 15 September people should expect temporary traffic changes in the town centre.
Kevin Craft, Acting Manager Assets and Major Projects, said people should be aware that there will be significant impacts in the town centre, while works are completed.
"Pre-construction work begins next week. This includes service location and additional geotechnical work. There will be temporary traffic and pedestrian changes in the town centre near the rail corridor, Jonson Street and Byron Street. Following this people will notice fencing going up in the area," said Mr Craft.
"The most significant changes for people will be a closure to the pedestrian footbridge between Butler Street and the rail corridor. Also, from late October one lane of a section of Jonson Street will be closed for two to four weeks to allow for service relocation work.
"Lawson Street Car Park South will still be open, however a small section of it will be closed until the December school holidays. Vehicles will need to enter/exit from Shirley Street. The laneway between Guzman Y Gomez and the Byron Hot Bread Kitchen will be closed.
"During the December/January school holidays work will not occur in the road reserve (no work in the car park or on the street), to minimise impacts to people using the town centre and for businesses. During this period, we plan to work in the rail corridor only, and the southern part of the Lawson Street Car Park South will be open again.
"Shops will be open for business as usual, while Byron Bay's Community Market has been relocated to the foreshore until this stage of Town Centre Catchment work is complete. The Farmers Market will remain at Butler Street, but people will need to walk to the north or south to access the rail corridor. We urge everyone to continue supporting both our businesses and market stalls while we get these important works done.
"The upgraded drainage system, once complete, will significantly reduce flooding impacts that have been seen in the past," Mr Craft added.
Timing of work and impacts September to December (weather permitting):
- From mid to late September pre-construction work begins. Temporary traffic control and pedestrian changes will be in place near the rail corridor, Jonson Street and Byron Street.
- From late September until the December school holidays, work is planned to occur in the rail corridor, the southern part of the Lawson Street Car Park South, and on Jonson Street. The car park will still be open, however a small section of it will be closed until the December school holidays. Vehicles will need to enter/exit from Shirley Street.
- From the end of October to the end of November, one lane of a section of Jonson Street will be closed during work hours, to carry out service relocation works. Vehicles will still be able to access Jonson Street under traffic control, but detours will be in place for through traffic.
- The pedestrian bridge between Butler Street and the rail corridor will be closed.
- The laneway between Byron Hot Bread Kitchen and Guzman Y Gomez will also be shut to pedestrians and vehicles until the December school holidays.
- People will need to follow traffic control, signage, and detour routes. These will be in place throughout the project to keep the community informed and manage access including pedestrian access and deliveries.
- Significant work on Byron Street is planned for next year. Byron Street will remain open this year, except for very short periods of traffic control during early investigation work planned for mid-September.
- Works will primarily occur Monday to Friday between 7am and 5.30pm. There may be weekend and night works at times. Access to the site outside of these hours to set up and remove equipment may occur.
- Noise/dust – At times, there will be machinery noise, including drilling and vacuum excavation, as well as dust. There will be measures in place to reduce dust and noise impacts, such as construction hoarding.
Stage 1 of construction of the Town Centre Catchment is jointly funded by the Australian and NSW Governments, through the Northern Rivers Recovery and Resilience Program and the Infrastructure Betterment Fund. As well as Byron Shire Council's Byron Bay Town Centre Master Plan Reserve.
Additional funding will be required to complete construction of the remaining stages of the Byron Bay Drainage Upgrade including other town centre works, such as upgrades to drainage on Fletcher Street and Lawson Street.
