{"id":119643,"date":"2025-12-01T13:33:13","date_gmt":"2025-12-01T02:33:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\/byroncoasttimes\/?p=119643"},"modified":"2025-12-01T14:08:20","modified_gmt":"2025-12-01T03:08:20","slug":"how-a-1960s-sand-mining-disaster-was-transformed-into-byron-bays-newest-nature-haven","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\/byroncoasttimes\/news\/how-a-1960s-sand-mining-disaster-was-transformed-into-byron-bays-newest-nature-haven\/","title":{"rendered":"How a 1960s sand mining disaster was transformed into Byron Bay\u2019s newest nature haven"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>HE\u2019S been watching it take shape for months, and Maurice Jones finally had the chance to ride along one of the new pathways at the Sandhills Wetlands in Byron Bay today.<\/p>\n<p>The 86-year-old was among several residents from the neighbouring St Andrew\u2019s George\u2019s Cottages aged care facility who attended the official opening. He said he now plans to walk or ride the paths several times a week.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI have been watching it since the start and I\u2019m very interested in the environment,\u201d he said. \u201cI think the design is a credit to everybody.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Located between Lawson Street and Massinger Street near the recreational fields, the 1.8-hectare site was destroyed by sandmining in the 1960s. Several years ago, Byron Bay\u2019s Indigenous Arakwal community approached Byron Shire Council with the idea of restoring the original wetlands.<\/p>\n<p>Standing alongside her cousin Brian Kelly, who conducted the Welcome to Country smoking ceremony at the opening event, Byron Shire councillor Delta Kay reflected on her ancestors.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThey would be very proud, they really wanted it cared for,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_119645\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-119645\" style=\"width: 640px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-119645\" src=\"https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/29\/2025\/12\/Uncle-Brian-Kelly-and-Delta-Kay-at-the-Sandhills-Wetlands-opening.-Photo-ANGELA-SAURINE-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"853\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/29\/2025\/12\/Uncle-Brian-Kelly-and-Delta-Kay-at-the-Sandhills-Wetlands-opening.-Photo-ANGELA-SAURINE-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/29\/2025\/12\/Uncle-Brian-Kelly-and-Delta-Kay-at-the-Sandhills-Wetlands-opening.-Photo-ANGELA-SAURINE-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/29\/2025\/12\/Uncle-Brian-Kelly-and-Delta-Kay-at-the-Sandhills-Wetlands-opening.-Photo-ANGELA-SAURINE-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/29\/2025\/12\/Uncle-Brian-Kelly-and-Delta-Kay-at-the-Sandhills-Wetlands-opening.-Photo-ANGELA-SAURINE-1536x2048.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/29\/2025\/12\/Uncle-Brian-Kelly-and-Delta-Kay-at-the-Sandhills-Wetlands-opening.-Photo-ANGELA-SAURINE-scaled.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-119645\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Uncle Brian Kelly and Delta Kay at the Sandhills Wetlands opening. Photo: ANGELA SAURINE<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The project is expected to enhance biodiversity and create habitat for birds and wildlife, and improve water quality at nearby Clarkes Beach, where a polluted lagoon often forms, as well as Belongil Creek and Cumbebin Swamp.<\/p>\n<p>The restored area now features three interconnected wetlands, seating and a network of shared paths linking the town centre with the Jarjumirr skatepark, the wetlands, and onwards to Walgun Cape Byron Lighthouse.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_119648\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-119648\" style=\"width: 640px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-119648\" src=\"https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/29\/2025\/12\/New-seating-at-Sandhills-Wetlands.-Photo-ANGELA-SAURINE-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/29\/2025\/12\/New-seating-at-Sandhills-Wetlands.-Photo-ANGELA-SAURINE-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/29\/2025\/12\/New-seating-at-Sandhills-Wetlands.-Photo-ANGELA-SAURINE-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/29\/2025\/12\/New-seating-at-Sandhills-Wetlands.-Photo-ANGELA-SAURINE-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/29\/2025\/12\/New-seating-at-Sandhills-Wetlands.-Photo-ANGELA-SAURINE-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/29\/2025\/12\/New-seating-at-Sandhills-Wetlands.-Photo-ANGELA-SAURINE-2048x1536.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-119648\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">New seating at Sandhills Wetlands. Photo: ANGELA SAURINE<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Byron Shire Mayor Sarah Ndiaye said it was Council\u2019s biggest and most complex environmental project to date, with 15,000 cubic metres of material removed and thousands of native trees planted.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSpoonbills are already coming here and we have heard that wallabies have come back,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<p>Cr Ndiaye said there are also plans for an Indigenous cultural centre to be connected to the site in future.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_119646\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-119646\" style=\"width: 640px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-119646\" src=\"https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/29\/2025\/12\/Sandmining-in-the-1960s-left-the-side-heavily-degraded.-Photo-RUSTY-MILLER-1024x687.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"429\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/29\/2025\/12\/Sandmining-in-the-1960s-left-the-side-heavily-degraded.-Photo-RUSTY-MILLER-1024x687.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/29\/2025\/12\/Sandmining-in-the-1960s-left-the-side-heavily-degraded.-Photo-RUSTY-MILLER-300x201.jpg 300w, https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/29\/2025\/12\/Sandmining-in-the-1960s-left-the-side-heavily-degraded.-Photo-RUSTY-MILLER-768x515.jpg 768w, https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/29\/2025\/12\/Sandmining-in-the-1960s-left-the-side-heavily-degraded.-Photo-RUSTY-MILLER-272x182.jpg 272w, https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/29\/2025\/12\/Sandmining-in-the-1960s-left-the-side-heavily-degraded.-Photo-RUSTY-MILLER.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-119646\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Sand mining in the 1960s left the site heavily degraded. Photo: RUSTY MILLER<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The wetlands restoration forms part of the Byron Bay Drainage Strategy, designed to improve stormwater management and reduce flooding.<\/p>\n<p>Minister for Recovery Janelle Saffin, Federal Member for Richmond Justine Elliot and State Member for Ballina Tamara Smith were among those who attended the opening.<\/p>\n<p>The project was funded by Byron Shire Council, the NSW Public Open Spaces Legacy Program, and the Australian Government through the Emergency Response Fund administered by the NSW Reconstruction Authority\u2019s Northern Rivers Recovery and Resilience Program 2022\u201323.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_119653\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-119653\" style=\"width: 640px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-119653\" src=\"https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/29\/2025\/12\/Sandmining-in-Byron-Bay-in-the-1960s.-Photo-RUSTY-MILLER-1024x589.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"368\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/29\/2025\/12\/Sandmining-in-Byron-Bay-in-the-1960s.-Photo-RUSTY-MILLER-1024x589.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/29\/2025\/12\/Sandmining-in-Byron-Bay-in-the-1960s.-Photo-RUSTY-MILLER-300x173.jpg 300w, https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/29\/2025\/12\/Sandmining-in-Byron-Bay-in-the-1960s.-Photo-RUSTY-MILLER-768x442.jpg 768w, https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/29\/2025\/12\/Sandmining-in-Byron-Bay-in-the-1960s.-Photo-RUSTY-MILLER-1536x884.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/29\/2025\/12\/Sandmining-in-Byron-Bay-in-the-1960s.-Photo-RUSTY-MILLER-2048x1178.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-119653\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Sand mining in Byron Bay in the 1960s. Photo: RUSTY MILLER<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>HE\u2019S been watching it take shape for months, and Maurice Jones finally had the chance to ride along one of the new pathways at the Sandhills Wetlands in Byron Bay today. The 86-year-old was among several residents from the neighbouring St Andrew\u2019s George\u2019s Cottages aged care facility who attended the official opening. He said he [&#8230;]<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"btn btn-secondary understrap-read-more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\/byroncoasttimes\/news\/how-a-1960s-sand-mining-disaster-was-transformed-into-byron-bays-newest-nature-haven\/\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":231,"featured_media":119644,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[91,106],"post_folder":[],"class_list":["post-119643","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-byron-bay","tag-wetlands"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.8 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>How a 1960s sand mining disaster was transformed into Byron Bay\u2019s newest nature haven - Byron Coast Times<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"After being destroyed by sandmining in the 1960s, the restored Sandhills Wetlands in Byron Bay has officially opened.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\/byroncoasttimes\/news\/how-a-1960s-sand-mining-disaster-was-transformed-into-byron-bays-newest-nature-haven\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"How a 1960s sand mining disaster was transformed into Byron Bay\u2019s newest nature haven - Byron Coast Times\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"After being destroyed by sandmining in the 1960s, the restored Sandhills Wetlands in Byron Bay has officially opened.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\/byroncoasttimes\/news\/how-a-1960s-sand-mining-disaster-was-transformed-into-byron-bays-newest-nature-haven\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Byron Coast Times\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-12-01T02:33:13+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-12-01T03:08:20+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/29\/2025\/12\/Maurice-Jones-86-riding-his-scooter-on-one-of-the-new-shared-pathways-at-Sandhills-Wetlands.-Photo-ANGELA-SAURINE-.png?_t=1764558500\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1200\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"630\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Angela Saurine\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Angela Saurine\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"3 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\\\/byroncoasttimes\\\/news\\\/how-a-1960s-sand-mining-disaster-was-transformed-into-byron-bays-newest-nature-haven\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\\\/byroncoasttimes\\\/news\\\/how-a-1960s-sand-mining-disaster-was-transformed-into-byron-bays-newest-nature-haven\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Angela Saurine\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\\\/byroncoasttimes\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/c393b5d2392428dbc88edcb82bb5b6be\"},\"headline\":\"How a 1960s sand mining disaster was transformed into Byron Bay\u2019s newest nature haven\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-12-01T02:33:13+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-12-01T03:08:20+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\\\/byroncoasttimes\\\/news\\\/how-a-1960s-sand-mining-disaster-was-transformed-into-byron-bays-newest-nature-haven\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":486,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\\\/byroncoasttimes\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\\\/byroncoasttimes\\\/news\\\/how-a-1960s-sand-mining-disaster-was-transformed-into-byron-bays-newest-nature-haven\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\\\/prod\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/29\\\/2025\\\/12\\\/Maurice-Jones-86-riding-his-scooter-on-one-of-the-new-shared-pathways-at-Sandhills-Wetlands.-Photo-ANGELA-SAURINE-.png\",\"keywords\":[\"Byron Bay\",\"wetlands\"],\"articleSection\":[\"News\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-AU\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\\\/byroncoasttimes\\\/news\\\/how-a-1960s-sand-mining-disaster-was-transformed-into-byron-bays-newest-nature-haven\\\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\\\/byroncoasttimes\\\/news\\\/how-a-1960s-sand-mining-disaster-was-transformed-into-byron-bays-newest-nature-haven\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\\\/byroncoasttimes\\\/news\\\/how-a-1960s-sand-mining-disaster-was-transformed-into-byron-bays-newest-nature-haven\\\/\",\"name\":\"How a 1960s sand mining disaster was transformed into Byron Bay\u2019s newest nature haven - Byron Coast Times\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\\\/byroncoasttimes\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\\\/byroncoasttimes\\\/news\\\/how-a-1960s-sand-mining-disaster-was-transformed-into-byron-bays-newest-nature-haven\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\\\/byroncoasttimes\\\/news\\\/how-a-1960s-sand-mining-disaster-was-transformed-into-byron-bays-newest-nature-haven\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\\\/prod\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/29\\\/2025\\\/12\\\/Maurice-Jones-86-riding-his-scooter-on-one-of-the-new-shared-pathways-at-Sandhills-Wetlands.-Photo-ANGELA-SAURINE-.png\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-12-01T02:33:13+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-12-01T03:08:20+00:00\",\"description\":\"After being destroyed by sandmining in the 1960s, the restored Sandhills Wetlands in Byron Bay has officially opened.\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-AU\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\\\/byroncoasttimes\\\/news\\\/how-a-1960s-sand-mining-disaster-was-transformed-into-byron-bays-newest-nature-haven\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-AU\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\\\/byroncoasttimes\\\/news\\\/how-a-1960s-sand-mining-disaster-was-transformed-into-byron-bays-newest-nature-haven\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\\\/prod\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/29\\\/2025\\\/12\\\/Maurice-Jones-86-riding-his-scooter-on-one-of-the-new-shared-pathways-at-Sandhills-Wetlands.-Photo-ANGELA-SAURINE-.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\\\/prod\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/29\\\/2025\\\/12\\\/Maurice-Jones-86-riding-his-scooter-on-one-of-the-new-shared-pathways-at-Sandhills-Wetlands.-Photo-ANGELA-SAURINE-.png\",\"width\":1200,\"height\":630,\"caption\":\"Maurice Jones, 86, riding on one of the new shared pathways at Sandhills Wetlands. Photo: Angela Saurine\"},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\\\/byroncoasttimes\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\\\/byroncoasttimes\\\/\",\"name\":\"Byron Coast Times\",\"description\":\"Free local news\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\\\/byroncoasttimes\\\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\\\/byroncoasttimes\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-AU\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\\\/byroncoasttimes\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Byron Coast Times\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\\\/byroncoasttimes\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-AU\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\\\/byroncoasttimes\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\\\/prod\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/29\\\/2024\\\/05\\\/f343f14532332583b8a6c7842fdd6156-1.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\\\/prod\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/29\\\/2024\\\/05\\\/f343f14532332583b8a6c7842fdd6156-1.png\",\"width\":948,\"height\":103,\"caption\":\"Byron Coast Times\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\\\/byroncoasttimes\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"}},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\\\/byroncoasttimes\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/c393b5d2392428dbc88edcb82bb5b6be\",\"name\":\"Angela Saurine\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-AU\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/0380b0f3b4c1aa3e04e2ba45d223ab4fdf265752f84fd494a2b9b8941ef72eb3?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/0380b0f3b4c1aa3e04e2ba45d223ab4fdf265752f84fd494a2b9b8941ef72eb3?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/0380b0f3b4c1aa3e04e2ba45d223ab4fdf265752f84fd494a2b9b8941ef72eb3?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Angela Saurine\"},\"description\":\"Angela Saurine is a journalist at the Times News Group based in the village of Bangalow in the Byron Bay hinterland. She has more than 20 years' experience in the media industry.\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\\\/byroncoasttimes\\\/author\\\/angelasaurine\\\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"How a 1960s sand mining disaster was transformed into Byron Bay\u2019s newest nature haven - Byron Coast Times","description":"After being destroyed by sandmining in the 1960s, the restored Sandhills Wetlands in Byron Bay has officially opened.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\/byroncoasttimes\/news\/how-a-1960s-sand-mining-disaster-was-transformed-into-byron-bays-newest-nature-haven\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"How a 1960s sand mining disaster was transformed into Byron Bay\u2019s newest nature haven - Byron Coast Times","og_description":"After being destroyed by sandmining in the 1960s, the restored Sandhills Wetlands in Byron Bay has officially opened.","og_url":"https:\/\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\/byroncoasttimes\/news\/how-a-1960s-sand-mining-disaster-was-transformed-into-byron-bays-newest-nature-haven\/","og_site_name":"Byron Coast Times","article_published_time":"2025-12-01T02:33:13+00:00","article_modified_time":"2025-12-01T03:08:20+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1200,"height":630,"url":"https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/29\/2025\/12\/Maurice-Jones-86-riding-his-scooter-on-one-of-the-new-shared-pathways-at-Sandhills-Wetlands.-Photo-ANGELA-SAURINE-.png?_t=1764558500","type":"image\/png"}],"author":"Angela Saurine","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Angela Saurine","Est. reading time":"3 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\/byroncoasttimes\/news\/how-a-1960s-sand-mining-disaster-was-transformed-into-byron-bays-newest-nature-haven\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\/byroncoasttimes\/news\/how-a-1960s-sand-mining-disaster-was-transformed-into-byron-bays-newest-nature-haven\/"},"author":{"name":"Angela Saurine","@id":"https:\/\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\/byroncoasttimes\/#\/schema\/person\/c393b5d2392428dbc88edcb82bb5b6be"},"headline":"How a 1960s sand mining disaster was transformed into Byron Bay\u2019s newest nature haven","datePublished":"2025-12-01T02:33:13+00:00","dateModified":"2025-12-01T03:08:20+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\/byroncoasttimes\/news\/how-a-1960s-sand-mining-disaster-was-transformed-into-byron-bays-newest-nature-haven\/"},"wordCount":486,"commentCount":0,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\/byroncoasttimes\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\/byroncoasttimes\/news\/how-a-1960s-sand-mining-disaster-was-transformed-into-byron-bays-newest-nature-haven\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/29\/2025\/12\/Maurice-Jones-86-riding-his-scooter-on-one-of-the-new-shared-pathways-at-Sandhills-Wetlands.-Photo-ANGELA-SAURINE-.png","keywords":["Byron Bay","wetlands"],"articleSection":["News"],"inLanguage":"en-AU","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\/byroncoasttimes\/news\/how-a-1960s-sand-mining-disaster-was-transformed-into-byron-bays-newest-nature-haven\/#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\/byroncoasttimes\/news\/how-a-1960s-sand-mining-disaster-was-transformed-into-byron-bays-newest-nature-haven\/","url":"https:\/\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\/byroncoasttimes\/news\/how-a-1960s-sand-mining-disaster-was-transformed-into-byron-bays-newest-nature-haven\/","name":"How a 1960s sand mining disaster was transformed into Byron Bay\u2019s newest nature haven - Byron Coast Times","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\/byroncoasttimes\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\/byroncoasttimes\/news\/how-a-1960s-sand-mining-disaster-was-transformed-into-byron-bays-newest-nature-haven\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\/byroncoasttimes\/news\/how-a-1960s-sand-mining-disaster-was-transformed-into-byron-bays-newest-nature-haven\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/29\/2025\/12\/Maurice-Jones-86-riding-his-scooter-on-one-of-the-new-shared-pathways-at-Sandhills-Wetlands.-Photo-ANGELA-SAURINE-.png","datePublished":"2025-12-01T02:33:13+00:00","dateModified":"2025-12-01T03:08:20+00:00","description":"After being destroyed by sandmining in the 1960s, the restored Sandhills Wetlands in Byron Bay has officially opened.","inLanguage":"en-AU","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\/byroncoasttimes\/news\/how-a-1960s-sand-mining-disaster-was-transformed-into-byron-bays-newest-nature-haven\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-AU","@id":"https:\/\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\/byroncoasttimes\/news\/how-a-1960s-sand-mining-disaster-was-transformed-into-byron-bays-newest-nature-haven\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/29\/2025\/12\/Maurice-Jones-86-riding-his-scooter-on-one-of-the-new-shared-pathways-at-Sandhills-Wetlands.-Photo-ANGELA-SAURINE-.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/29\/2025\/12\/Maurice-Jones-86-riding-his-scooter-on-one-of-the-new-shared-pathways-at-Sandhills-Wetlands.-Photo-ANGELA-SAURINE-.png","width":1200,"height":630,"caption":"Maurice Jones, 86, riding on one of the new shared pathways at Sandhills Wetlands. Photo: Angela Saurine"},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\/byroncoasttimes\/#website","url":"https:\/\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\/byroncoasttimes\/","name":"Byron Coast Times","description":"Free local news","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\/byroncoasttimes\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\/byroncoasttimes\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-AU"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\/byroncoasttimes\/#organization","name":"Byron Coast Times","url":"https:\/\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\/byroncoasttimes\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-AU","@id":"https:\/\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\/byroncoasttimes\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/29\/2024\/05\/f343f14532332583b8a6c7842fdd6156-1.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/29\/2024\/05\/f343f14532332583b8a6c7842fdd6156-1.png","width":948,"height":103,"caption":"Byron Coast Times"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\/byroncoasttimes\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"}},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\/byroncoasttimes\/#\/schema\/person\/c393b5d2392428dbc88edcb82bb5b6be","name":"Angela Saurine","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-AU","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/0380b0f3b4c1aa3e04e2ba45d223ab4fdf265752f84fd494a2b9b8941ef72eb3?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/0380b0f3b4c1aa3e04e2ba45d223ab4fdf265752f84fd494a2b9b8941ef72eb3?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/0380b0f3b4c1aa3e04e2ba45d223ab4fdf265752f84fd494a2b9b8941ef72eb3?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Angela Saurine"},"description":"Angela Saurine is a journalist at the Times News Group based in the village of Bangalow in the Byron Bay hinterland. She has more than 20 years' experience in the media industry.","url":"https:\/\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\/byroncoasttimes\/author\/angelasaurine\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\/byroncoasttimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/119643","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\/byroncoasttimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\/byroncoasttimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\/byroncoasttimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/231"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\/byroncoasttimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=119643"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\/byroncoasttimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/119643\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\/byroncoasttimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/119644"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\/byroncoasttimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=119643"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\/byroncoasttimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=119643"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\/byroncoasttimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=119643"},{"taxonomy":"post_folder","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\/byroncoasttimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/post_folder?post=119643"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}