The NSW Government will work with Tweed and Byron Shire Councils to reinstate public and emergency vehicle access to two key Crown reserves that were impacted by coastal erosion as a result of ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred.
Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred impacted the North Coast in March 2025 with heavy seas, large swells, and strong onshore winds triggering coastal erosion and flooding across the region.
The Australian and NSW Governments confirmed Natural Disaster Declarations for Byron and Tweed shires.
Crown Lands in the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (DPHI) will provide $130,000 in Emergency Grant Relief to help restore public and emergency services access to recreational reserves at Belongil Beach in Byron Bay and Ebenezer Park at Tweed Heads.
Belongil Beach, a highly popular beach located north of Byron Bay's town centre, was impacted by erosion with a loss of sand leaving an emergency vehicle access point impassable. Erosion undermined the access ramp, dislodged rock protection and damaged a handrail.
Emergency vehicles, such as ambulance and police, rely on the ramp to access the beach that extends north from the seawall at Main Beach car park up to the mouth of Belongil Creek.
Crown Lands will provide an emergency grant of $50,000 to Byron Shire Council to restore emergency vehicle beach access. Repair work will include extension of the ramp to rejoin the beach, stabilisation of the ramp's foundation, backfilling and installation of rocks to protect against waves, and sand nourishment and reinstatement of rocks at the base of the ramp.
Crown Lands will also provide an emergency grant of $80,000 to Tweed Shire Council to help repair the Ebenezer Park Coastal walkway at Tweed Heads, which is jointly managed by the Council and Crown Lands.
Ebenezer Park, which is located next to the Tweed River and Little Duranbah Beach, was impacted by storm damage in 2022 and then sustained further damage from the cyclone.
Tweed Shire Council has been issued with a licence from Crown Lands to undertake work on the land managed by Crown Lands and will co-contribute $318,000 to repair the part of the walkway it manages.
Minister for Recovery and North Coast Janelle Saffin said:
"It's great to see collaboration between Crown Lands and Tweed and Byron Shire Councils helping to restore public as well as emergency vehicle access to these important community areas.
"Belongil Beach is one of Byron's most used beaches and Ebenezer Park and pathway is a popular spot for locals and tourists near the Jack Evans Boat Harbour precinct.
"Restoring damaged coastal walkways and emergency vehicle access builds resilience and restores our public spaces where families, friends and communities can come together."
Minister for Lands and Property Steve Kamper said:
"Reinstating infrastructure in tourism-reliant areas like Byron Bay and Tweed is vital as it supports the local economies which depend on their coastal amenity and public access to beaches and foreshore assets.
"Coastal erosion repairs to public land also helps stabilise vulnerable environments so they are more resilient to withstand future severe weather events."
