Social Futures is taking Expressions of Interest from potential tenants for the Byron CoLab on Arakwal Country. In partnership with the Byron Shire Council, we are transforming the old Byron Hospital site, and developing a for-purpose centre that connects people to their greatest potential and supports them to thrive. Byron Shire Council is redeveloping the site and expects to hand it over to Social Futures around June 2024.
The vision of the Byron CoLab is to:
increase availability of services that benefit the community (e.g. health, wellbeing, employment, education and cultural)
establish a space for community to connect, collaborate and strengthen the social fabric of the Byron Shire
improve social outcomes to increase resilience for the people of Byron Bay Shire.
Tenancy options
Social Futures invites for-purpose community and commercial organisations that align with the Byron CoLab vision to apply for tenancy. Social Futures has established three rental tiers to support tenants:
1. Commercial for-purpose businesses
2. Commercial discounted (for-profit community service providers)
3. Discounted (not-for-profit community service providers, limited space with a range of discounts)
Spaces available for tenancy
Community precinct
The community space will have a range of micro and larger offices, as well as co-working spaces available.
Example tenancies include health services, youth and family services, aged care, NDIS, community groups and cultural organisations.
Discounted rates for not-for-profit organisations may be applied to these tenancies.
Commercial precinct
The commercial space will host health, allied health and wellbeing practitioners, and socially or environmentally focused businesses.
Example tenancies include medical services, allied health services, café, and information services. Tenancies here will be prioritised to organisations that most aligns with vision to support community connection.
Byron Shire Council has appointed a builder and completion is expected by the end of June/July 2024. This is weather dependent.
Byron Shire Council submitted a DA to their Council in July 2021 and this was approved in December 2022. Some DA conditions need to be modified. This is being addressed and an application to modify the DA will be submitted soon.
There is an education precinct allocated in the planning. Talks have advanced with one university. Byron Shire Council is finalising their conditions prior to a Head Lease being signed. Only then can a lease with a university be signed.
Once the various tenants are secured and the centre commences, the tenants and Community Advisory Group will discuss “community activities”.
There will be a mix of tenants, all of whom will provide a service of “purpose” to the community. Some may be for profit and others not for profit. Given that the handover date from Byron Shire Council isn’t firm and is well into the future, it’s premature to secure tenants currently.
The community has informed Council that the building has historical and emotional significance to the community. For these reasons the community requested that the building be refurbished and retained.
Whatever use the building is put to, it would require the same process that is currently being enacted. This is a Development Application, architectural designs, construction tendering, construction etc.