Council Unanimously Supports Southern Gateway Corridor Motion
- 19th June 2026
- Council & Advocacy
- 5 min read
What began as a community conversation has become a formally recognised Council priority.
The Suffolk Park Community Association (SPCA) is pleased to share that Byron Shire Council has unanimously supported a motion requesting staff to review the Southern Gateway Corridor Integrated Resilience Package, identify priority projects, pursue suitable funding opportunities & consider opportunities for staged delivery.
The motion was introduced by Mayor Sarah Ndiaye at the Council Meeting on 18th June 2026 & follows several months of community engagement, research, advocacy & collaboration led by local residents & volunteers.
While the original proposal focused on a potential Disaster Ready Fund application, Council ultimately resolved to take a broader approach by investigating funding opportunities & implementation pathways across the corridor.
For SPCA, the outcome represents an important milestone.
A Community-Led Initiative
The Southern Gateway Corridor is a community-developed concept that brings together a range of interconnected challenges affecting the southern gateway to Byron Bay, including flooding, drainage, emergency access, Bird Lake, environmental health, transport safety & active transport connections.
Over recent months, community members have contributed ideas, local knowledge, historical information, photographs, consultation responses & project suggestions to help build a more complete picture of the opportunities & challenges within the corridor.
123 residents formally registered their support for Council investigating the concept further.
Recognition for Community Engagement
During the meeting, Mayor Sarah Ndiaye acknowledged the work undertaken by the Suffolk Park community & the Association's recent efforts to encourage community participation.
Referring to SPCA's work during the Strategic Regional Integrated Transport Plan (SRITP) consultation, the Mayor noted:
"They managed to get the most number of people to engage with the SRITP... they really showed us how it can be done."
She also thanked the community for its enthusiasm & commitment to highlighting local challenges & opportunities.
For our volunteers, members & supporters, this recognition was deeply appreciated.
An Integrated Approach
A key theme throughout the Council discussion was recognition that the challenges affecting the corridor are interconnected & should not be considered in isolation.
Councillor Elia Hauge thanked SPCA for its work & highlighted the importance of taking a coordinated approach to future planning & investment.
"There are a number of different challenges in this space that relate not only to traffic, not only to flooding. They're not isolated, they are integrated."
Councillor Hauge also acknowledged the need to consider multiple planning & funding pathways while continuing to build an understanding of how transport, drainage, environmental & resilience outcomes fit together.
Importantly, she indicated her support for continuing to work with the community to explore how the corridor can be progressed in an integrated way moving forward.
Bird Lake Identified as a Key Opportunity
Bird Lake was specifically referenced during the debate as an area where future opportunities may exist to improve environmental outcomes while also addressing flooding & drainage challenges.
The discussion recognised the importance of understanding how Bird Lake, drainage infrastructure, transport networks & the broader catchment interact as part of a connected system.
This aligns closely with the Southern Gateway Corridor concept developed by community members over recent months.
Community Building at Its Best
One of the most encouraging moments of the debate came during the Mayor's closing remarks.
Reflecting on the recent evolution of SPCA & its collaboration with other local groups, Mayor Ndiaye said:
"What's been really wonderful is watching the Suffolk Park Community Association working together, reforming, bringing a new kind of life & dynamic."
She went on to describe SPCA's approach as:
"Real grassroots community building at its best."
These comments recognise what many community members have already experienced firsthand: when people come together, share ideas, volunteer their time & work constructively with others, positive outcomes become possible.
What Happens Next?
The resolution adopted by Council requests staff to:
Review the Southern Gateway Corridor Integrated Resilience Package
Identify priority projects
Pursue suitable funding opportunities
Consider opportunities for staged delivery
This means the conversation now shifts from identifying problems to exploring solutions, priorities & implementation pathways.
Thank You
SPCA would like to thank Mayor Sarah Ndiaye, Councillors, Council staff, community members & volunteers who contributed their time, ideas & expertise throughout this process.
The unanimous resolution marks an important milestone, but it is only the beginning.
Over the coming months, SPCA looks forward to continuing to work collaboratively with Council, community members & other stakeholders to help advance practical solutions for the Southern Gateway Corridor.
The conversation has now shifted from advocacy to delivery & we are excited to see what can be achieved together.
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