OVERVIEW In 2003, the Minister administering the Crown Lands Act 1989 entered into an Indigenous Land Use Agreement (ILUA) with representatives of the Arakwal people and Byron Shire Council regarding certain lands within Byron Shire. Information regarding this agreement is available on the Byron Shire Council website at www.byron.nsw.gov.au/indigenous.shtml As a result of the agreement, the Department of Lands has engaged GeoLINK to undertake a draft strategic planning study of the Sandhills Estate, setting out the environmental constraints and social, cultural and economic characteristics for the site. The outcomes of the study are to include an examination of: Appropriate land area required by the State Government for its purposes; Appropriate land area required by the Arakwal Corporation for its purposes; Appropriate land area required by Byron Shire Council for its purposes; Future road and drainage reserves; Potential development areas; and Conservation areas. GeoLINK will be managing the planning investigations which include a range of initiatives to engage with key stakeholders and the public. The study will be consistent with the requirements of the North Coast Regional Environment Plan, 1998 and will have full regard for the relevant parts of the NSW Coastal Policy, 1997 and Byron LEP, 1988.