Have your say on Byron Shire’s newest suburb, Gulgan Village

LOCAL residents are being encouraged to have their say on plans for Gulgan Village, a proposed new residential community near Brunswick Heads that could deliver up to 550 homes.

Byron Shire Council has placed three key planning documents on public exhibition, giving the community an opportunity to review and comment on the future development before submissions close on 12 July.

The proposed 48ha Gulgan Village site is located on elevated land within the Saddle Road Precinct adjoining Gulgan Road at Brunswick Heads. The development is planned to include a mix of housing options, including terraces, low-rise apartments, small lots and traditional residential blocks, alongside neighbourhood services such as shops and cafes.

The council’s sustainable environment and economy acting director, Sarah Nagel, said community feedback would play an important role in shaping the project.

“The planning proposal seeks to amend the Local Environmental Plan to enable a new residential village of between 400 and 550 homes,” she said.

“It also sets out proposed maximum building heights and minimum lot sizes, so this is the community’s opportunity to review the detail and provide feedback.”

The three exhibition documents include the Gulgan Village Planning Proposal, a draft Development Control Plan (DCP), and a proposed Voluntary Planning Agreement (VPA) between the council and the developer.

According to the council, the draft DCP outlines the desired character of the village, including housing design, landscaping, open space, view corridors and the incorporation of Connecting with Country principles. It also addresses infrastructure requirements such as road networks, traffic management and staging of development.

The proposed VPA includes commitments for affordable housing, road upgrades, sewerage infrastructure and land for a future water reservoir. It also proposes dedicating 5 per cent of developed residential land to the council for affordable housing.

Residents can view the documents and lodge submissions through the council’s Your Say website or inspect hard copies at its Mullumbimby offices until 12 July.