Plan to transform popular Aussie beach town divides
It’s one of Australia’s most popular beach towns but it’s current state is looking “shocking”, according to one of the country’s biggest architects.
Byron Bay’s mayor has sensationally lashed a renowned architect’s “unsolicited” plan to give the iconic tourist destination a major facelift.
An Australian landscape architect wants to transform the town’s beachfront, saying its current state is looking “shocking” and doesn’t match the town’s aesthetics.
David Vago, who has a portfolio of significant NSW projects including the Cronulla Sharks redevelopment, Pacific Bondi Beach and large-scale housing projects for developers Mirvac, has lashed Byron Shire Council for its lack of interest in his $30 million beachfront proposal.
Mr Vago, of firm Habit8, wants to see the car park removed and replaced with grass and a solar-powered aquatic centre, complete with a 50 metre pool, gym, restaurant, cocktail bar, outdoor fitness area and wedding reception overlooking Main Beach.
He said the “green over” will help boost the area, benefiting both locals and tourists.
“There’s already an aquatic centre there but we want to make it work as it’s closed half of the year – we want to turn that land into a proper pool with a big deck wrapping around it,” Mr Vago told news.com.au.
The architect, who has been living in Byron for the past 10 years, said it involves getting rid of the current “ugly” car park that sits between the surf life saving club and caravan park that has since become “seedy”.
“Byron Bay is the second or third most visited place in Australia for tourists, yet we have done nothing – it’s a dilapidated place at the moment,” he said.
“If you go to Cairns, they’ve got public art on the Esplanade, Townsville has The Strand (on the beachfront), Noosa has a boardwalk to the national park, the Surfers Paradise waterfront in the Gold Coast is redone and Byron Bay has nothing, not even a playground.”
Mr Vago said he pitched his plan to the council but is yet to see any interest.
Byron mayor Sarah Ndiaye described the proposal as “unsolicited”.
“We get a lot of unsolicited proposals like this for all sorts of projects and looking online, it seems Mr Vago makes a bit of a habit of this approach,” Ms Ndiaye said.
“It’s a lot more helpful if people direct their vision and enthusiasm through the community consultation process.
“At a glance, the proposal doesn’t sit within council’s land footprint and takes in a lot of privately owned retail land with some of the highest price-tags in the country.”
“We look forward to the ongoing robust discussions to be had around this much-loved area. I’m not going to make any presumptions about local Indigenous positions on this, but I do not agree with any of the assertions made in the press release.”
Mr Vago said he pitched the idea to show people what it can look like.
“I know people can be anti everything but sometimes when they see a vision, they’re like ‘Oh, this can be good’,” he said.
“We are the number one wedding destination in Australia yet there is nowhere to get married on the beach,” he added.
“There is one restaurant on the beach but it’s going to be removed soon because of erosion.”
“You look at the cost of property [in Byron] and the amount of tourists who visit, and it doesn’t match. I’ve seen better public domains and playgrounds in southwest Sydney where garages here are worth more – it’s because people in those areas want change and for some reason here they don’t.”
Mr Vago said the project would cost roughly $30 million with the building of the aquatic centre costing about $20 million alone.
“There’s already a pool there – we would just expand on it, pulling the existing building and car park down.”
“The (new) car park will go behind all the shops and we will make that two to three stories and you will have yourself a beachfront free of cars. You can still drive down and check the surf, but we’re just proposing to get rid of the ugly car park.”
The plan also includes grassed areas, shaded by native trees, complemented by boardwalks, viewing platforms, and thoughtfully designed public furniture, the proposal states.
Mr Vago, who lives a 15-minute walk from Main Beach, said locals around him are all for the change, adding many who oppose the plan don’t even live in the area.
He said it would make the perfect place for families with young children, tourists and locals alike, adding the eight-lane Olympic pool would be a major draw card, as will the wedding reception.
He also noted it’s protected area out of the wind (a common problem during summer) that will help give locals and tourists another option.
Mr Vago pitched his grand plan to Greens mayor Sarah Ndiaye who he said doesn’t support his vision which would also involve more trees being planted.
He expressed his confusion that despite his “green” vision, many environmental activists seem to want to keep cars and pavement on the beachfront at the expense of the natural environment.
“If you want to green Byron, green it,” he demanded, adding it has led some to express it’s an oxymoron for a green LGA to battle over removing cars and concrete from the shores of a protected marine park.
Mr Vago said Labor MP Justine Elliot has expressed her support, but she “can’t get us the money without council pushing for it”.
“So it has to come from them which means it will never happen, unfortunately.”
He said the beachfront is in desperate need of an uplift with no money having been injected into the area for about 20 years.
He said he just wants a beachfront that is more accessible, inclusive and reflective of Byron Bay’s natural beauty.
News.com.au has contacted Byron Bay Shire council for comment.