Sandhills site delivers multiple outcomes for Byron Bay

A new $28 million emergency services precinct will be built housing NSW Police and Fire and Rescue NSW as part of range of benefits to be secured for Byron Bay under agreements for the Sandhills Estate site.

The state-of-the-art facility will bolster the capabilities of each agency to provide stronger firstresponses and meet the needs of Byron's growing population. The precinct will be centrally located adjacent to the CBD on a 6,500 square metre area of Crown land on Gilmore Crescent.

The new location will offer improved flood resilience and connectivity, and the building design will significantly improve operational and staff facilities while adhering to sustainable design principles. Planning of the facility is underway with construction expected to begin in early 2026 following planning approvals.

To accommodate the development, Byron Shire Council will extend nearby Tennyson Street to meet Gilmore Crescent to support vehicle access to the precinct and ensure efficient emergency first response times across the local area.

The Sandhills Estate covers about 13 hectares of land adjacent to Byron CBD and is Crown land previously used for sand mining.

Crown Lands, the NSW Aboriginal land Council, Tweed Byron Local Aboriginal Land Council have negotiated Aboriginal Land Agreements (ALAs) to settle outstanding Aboriginal land claims and interests on the Sandhills site.

As part of the ALAs, the new emergency services precinct at the Sandhills site was secured.

Another 3.79 hectare of the Sandhills site will transfer to the ownership of Tweed Byron Local Aboriginal Land Council, as well as the current Police station site in Shirley Street and current Fire and Rescue site in Kingsley Street.

Other benefits from the ALAs for Byron will include land for community facilities and services such as the new skate park, stormwater, road and parking infrastructure, path connection upgrades, and protection of sensitive environmental areas.

The 3.1-hectare recreation precinct between Middleton Street and Gilmore Crescent will be leased to Byron Shire Council for 50 years for open space, the skate park, parking and infrastructure and environmental protection.

The 5.46-hectare Sandhills Wetlands between Cowper and Massinger Streets will remain Crown land with Byron Shire Council appointed to manage it as Crown land manager.

Crown Lands Executive Director of Land and Asset Management Greg Sullivan said:

“This is an historic outcome that achieves multiple benefits for Byron Bay – a new emergency services precinct, Aboriginal outcomes and settlement of land claims, protection of environmental areas, community and recreation land, and stormwater, road and other supporting infrastructure.”

Minister for Lands and Property Steve Kamper said:

“The Minns Labor Government is focused on building better communities. It’s great to see Crown land being utilised to deliver a range of benefits for critical emergency services, Aboriginal outcomes, community recreation and environmental protection.

“I thank the NSW agencies, NSW Aboriginal Land Council, Tweed Byron Local Aboriginal Land Council and Byron Shire Council for working together to secure an outcome that puts the needs of the community and our social infrastructure first.”

NSW Aboriginal Land Council Chairperson Councillor Raymond Kelly said:

“This is an historic win for the Land Rights Network in NSW. It will create economic opportunities for generations to come for the Tweed Byron Local Aboriginal Land Council and the local community. When we all work together, great outcomes can be achieved.”

Tweed Byron Local Aboriginal Land Council CEO Leweena Williams said:

“After some challenging Aboriginal Land Agreement negotiations, Tweed Byron Local Aboriginal Land Council are excited about the positive outcomes achieved through this process.

“This is a great example of collaboration by Tweed Byron Local Aboriginal Council and key stakeholders, that demonstrates our commitment to advocating for the advancement and protection of Aboriginal people, land, heritage, spirituality and culture.”

Byron Shire Council Mayor Sarah Ndiaye said:

“The Sandhills site is vitally important to Byron Bay and its community - culturally, environmentally and socially.

“We recently delivered Jajumirr Park in the Sandhills precinct near the Byron Bay Library and we’re now working on the restoration of the Sandhills Wetlands.”