$1.2 million rail corridor project boosts Byron CBD connection

It had been an “unused, dead space” fenced off from the community but now new life has been breathed into this precinct.

A major step in the realisation of the Byron Bay masterplan was chalked up on Saturday.

The $1.2 million railway corridor restoration project, now opened to the public, is the latest instalment in a $40 million series of infrastructure projects in the town.

The space, long fenced off from the community, features new grassy expanses, native gardens, paths and seating as well as public art.

It connects through to Butler Street, the new bus interchange and Railway Park, which have also been parts of the town’s masterplan projects.

Chris Hanley has chaired the masterplan group since its inception in 2015 and was pleased with the outcome of the space.

“It was an unused sort of dead space and for years it was fence off,” Mr Hanley said.

“It was fenced both sides and you couldn‘t walk across it for the better part of 20 years.”

Mr Hanley said the rail corridor had gone from a disused space where people would have to “duck through the fence” to get across it, to a pleasing connection to the CBD.

Former mayor Simon Richardson recalled cooking up visions of the Byron Bay masterplan with the council’s previous general manager, Ken Gainger.

From that meeting, $40 million worth of projects have flowed into the town.

And it wasn’t a matter that divided councillors, Mr Richardson said.

“This has been one of the things we as a community and council should be proud of,” he said.

“From day one, every single councillor over two council terms were all unanimous in their support.

“Some were more energetic in their support … (but) everyone ultimately supported the vision of it.”

He said it was pleasing to arrive there on Saturday morning to find “a genuinely open space that really pushes that vision of cars out, people in”.

Councillor Alan Hunter agreed it was a positive project.

“No matter out politics, out heart was always in this,” he said.

For Brisbane artist Giovanni Veronesi, the project was a big milestone because the council finally found a home for his first public art sculpture, Memento Aestates which was earlier slated for nearby Railway Park.

He described the work, which represents the pandanus nut, as “a love letter to Byron”.

“It’s an incredible milestone and I’m still pinching myself,” he said.

Mayor Michael Lyon said he was pleased to see the town’s connectivity boosted with the project.

Mr Lyon said it was “really gratifying” the rail corridor project was completely council-funded.

Much of the masterplan work has been jointly funded.

“I think what we got for our money, we can be really proud of,” he said.

“There were heaps of delays with Covid but it was within budget which is always pleasing.

“It’s really pleasing to provide infrastructure for our community.”

Deputy mayor Sarah Ndiaye said open spaces like this one would be all the more vital as the community continues to navigate the Covid-19 pandemic because of the demand for outdoor places to socialise.

“It’s incredible to see more and more parts of the jigsaw puzzle come together and the integration of the water tower through to railway park and now this space taking us from the railway station up towards the sea,” Ms Ndiaye said.

Councillor Alan Hunter (centre), Denise Napier from the public art panel (left) and former mayor Simon Richardson (at rear). Picture: Liana Boss

“I think it’s incredibly important that we have places like this now, more than ever; because of Covid we’re going to need to be socialising outside more.”

Denise Napier is involved in the public art panel that helps to guide projects like this.

The panel is made up of local people with design, architecture and other expertise.

Ms Napier welcomed the outcome at the precinct.

“I think it’s incredibly diverse and very well-conceived,” she said.

“It all flows really beautifully.”

She expressed gratitude to the previous mayor “whose forethought and enthusiasm cemented the idea” and the remaining councillors who have built on that.

“As a community member who lives in Byron Bay, I’m so proud of how it looks now,” she said.