TRANSFORMATION PLANNED FOR AUSSIE BEACH TOWN THAT WILL DIVIDE LOCALS

• A new vision for Byron's beachfront has been unveiled
• READ MORE: We live in a beautiful beachside town... But we're scared our slice of paradise is going to be turned into a 'grubby' Gold Coast  

A bold plan to remove a beachfront carpark in Byron Bay would see the tourist hotspot undergo its biggest transformation in 20 years. 

Landscape architect David Vago has pitched a beachfront makeover to Byron Shire Council on the NSW North Coast that would replace the carpark with a solar-powered aquatic centre, wedding function area and a restaurant. 

The proposal will also feature a cocktail bar, new seating, boardwalks, viewing platforms, an amphitheatre, playground, public art and an outdoor fitness area.

Mr Vago, a Byron local, told Daily Mail Australia his vision for the tourist hotspot was submitted several weeks ago to 'spark council into action'.

'There's been talk about fixing the foreshore and doing an aquatic centre,' he said. 

'The restaurant further up the beach is going to be pulled down because it's near the erosion line of where the corrosion is happening on the beach side. 

'So I just put two and two together and came up with a vision that basically incorporates redoing the park foreshore and removing the carpark and putting it behind the aquatic centre.'

The architect said people who know Hollywood star and Byron local Chris Hemsworth say he 'would love to see something happen down there'. 

Mr Vago has pitched his grand plan to Byron Shire Council Mayor Sarah Ndiaye but she is yet to show any interest.

Mr Vago said he found it surprising that Ms Ndiaye, a Byron Greens councillor, doesn't support his vision which would also involve more trees being planted. 

'There seems to be mass hypocrisy on the bold vision to remove carparking from the beachfront as many greens and environmental activists seem to want to keep cars and pavement on the beachfront at the expense of the natural environment,' he said.

'This 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 there was a lot of opposition to change in Byron and that the concept of NIMBYism is rife, adding many who opposed the plan don't even live in the area. 

'This is the other problem, they all used to live here. They now live in Bangalow, or Federal or Mullumbimby, or whatever, and they represent us,' he said. 

Mr Vago said the new aquatic centre with an eight-lane Olympic pool would be embraced by locals and tourists alike.

'Tourists will love it. Locals will love it. It's a protected area out of the wind and also great for a lot of families that come here that can't swim very well,' he said. 

'Every local wants to see a new pool, and something happen down the beach, because it is pretty bad down there.

'They haven't spent any money there for 20 years.' 

Mr Vago said the acquatic centre was vital for maintaining the green space with funds from the kiosk, restaurant, function centre and gym. 

Mr Vago's vision also includes a function area for weddings, something he believes Byron is seriously lacking, and a boardwalk for accessibility. 

'At the moment you can't even get up to the lighthouse if you're elderly or you've got a pram,' the architect said. 

'The idea is that this continues all the way along a boardwalk, and it links up and goes up to the lighthouse around the headland.'

Mr Vago said Byron was heavily reliant on the tourism industry. 

'Every so often, Byron has to evolve, because now, it has no industry other than tourism,' he said. 

'They don't like tourists. I'm like, "But you have to, there's no economy here".'

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Byron Shire Council and Mayor Sarah Ndiaye. 

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2024-11-11T14:17:49Z