UPDATE: Today's 'in camera' meeting of Byron Shire Council finished as it began with none in attendance being able to discuss the outcome. More details may be forthcoming this tomorrow (Friday). 

BYRON Shire Council is meeting in a confidential session this (Thursday) morning to discuss legal advice surrounding the policy of planned retreat currently in place for properties on the Belongil Spit.

At last month's meeting, "Council resolved to request general advice in relation to the legal options and likely impediments to the implementation of planned retreat, so as to identify the processes and the challenges..."

Byron Shire News understands that such advice has been delivered and councillors are meeting today to discuss a way forward.

Community Alliance for Byron Shire representative (CABS), Donald Maughan said this morning's confidential council meeting, "was yet another example of the community being excluded from the decision making processes regarding our town."

"I am led to believe council is having to formulate a response to a multi-million dollar legal threat regarding damage supposedly caused at Belongil Beach by the construction of the rock wall and groins at Main Beach in 1974."

"The whole thing is shrouded in secrecy and the community should be very concerned regarding the outcome of this meeting and any subsequent court case will dramatically affect our community and council's future viability."

Prior to going into today's meeting Councillor Duncan Dey said, "Its despicable that something that has such huge implications for our shire is being being done without (the people of) the shire knowing what's going on."