The collection of flood-affected waste is going well and the streets are looking cleaner every day. Find out more about this week’s schedule below.
Was your car damaged in the flood? Free community transport is now on offer to and from the Mullumbimby Flood Recovery Centre. Ring and book your lift on 1300 875 895 or at the community transport website. If you know anyone who has been flood-affected and needs transport, please let them know about this service.
In other news – we were successful in delivering road access for the majority of the road network over the weekend, as hoped.
However, an additional crack has formed at the Wilsons Creek One landslip which means that we now need to extend the rock support works to make this area safe. This new crack is preventing heavy machinery being moved up the valley. We need to continue to work on this until it is safe.
We will have specialised crews onsite from Tuesday – hoping to get the job done by Friday, weather permitting.
Mullumbimby Flood Recovery Centre
The official Flood Recovery Centre for the Byron Shire is at the Mullumbimby Civic Hall in Dalley Street.
The centre is open 7 days from 9am until 5pm.
The Recovery Centre offers face-to-face support and is a one stop shop of services including:
- Resilience NSW
- Services Australia (Centrelink)
- Red Cross
- North Coast Community Housing
- Legal Aid
- Service NSW
- Communities and Justice (DCJ) – Housing
- Social Futures NDIS
- Salvation Army
- Mullumbimby District Neighbourhood Centre
- Social worker and counsellor
- Auto & General Insurance
- Suncorp Insurance
- Chaplain
Waste and Clean-up Information and Schedule
There may be traffic delays as trucks continue to move through the Shire collecting flood-damaged waste.
Please move cars from the streets if possible to make it easier for trucks and staff to get access to the waste.
If the vehicle is flood-damaged, call us on 1300 652 625.
Clean up schedule from Tuesday 15 March
Mullumbimby
Jubilee Avenue.
New Brighton
North Head Road and off streets.
South Golden Beach
Crews are working through this area. Could residents of Berrimbulah Court please move cars off the street.
Ocean Shores
Balemo Drive.
North Ocean Shores
Crews are working from South Golden Beach towards North Ocean Shores.
Areas completed so far:
- Brunswick Heads
- Billinudgel
- The Pocket
- Main Arm Road to Durrumbal Hall
- Left Bank Road Area
Facts about our flood-damaged waste
From 28 February – 14 March we collected and received:
- 2,416.67 tonnes collected by Byron Shire Council and contractors
- 345.90 tonnes flood waste brought to BRRC (public)
- 43.6 tonnes – ADF
- 20.78 tonnes of white goods/scrap metal
- Some waste was also sent to the regional waste transfer site at Alstonville.
Hazardous waste
A specialised collection Contractor will be moving through areas to collect hazardous waste such as gas bottles, paints, oils and chemicals. These also will not be collected by the general clean up crews at the same time as other flood damaged waste.
Asbestos
***Do not put asbestos out for kerbside collection – it is a serious health hazard**
If you’re unsure whether you have asbestos in your house and you are removing flooring or walls, you may need to do a test.
Test kits are available from Council and it takes five days to return a result from the lab. See Council’s website for more great resources and information.
Residents should contact their insurers to engage specialised contractors to remove asbestos waste wherever possible.
Repair and reuse
There are some amazing groups who are repairing, cleaning and sharing goods. They are working hard to recover, salvage and repair items. Items identified may be collected separately so they won’t go into the trucks with the rest of the items. Don’t be alarmed if they are left behind.
Byron Resource Recovery Centre – Myocum
- The Byron Resource Recovery Centre is open from 8am-4pm weekdays, 8:30am-11:30am weekends.
- Residents disposing of flood-damaged waste need to provide ID with proof of address.
- People should use skips provided wherever possible to avoid congestion at the Resource Recovery Centre
Kerbside bin collection
- Wheelie bin collection is continuing as normal where possible.
- Where this is not possible skip bins have been provided nearby.
- If you do not have access to a waste service where you did previously call the Resource Recovery Hotline 1300 652 625.
Missing bin – lost in flood?
If your wheelie bin(s) was swept away in the flood – you can complete our online form to get a replacement. Please note that your bin was lost to flood.
Roads and bridges
Wilsons Creek
An additional crack has formed at the Wilsons Creek One landslip which means that we now need to extend the rock support works to make this area safe. This new crack is preventing heavy machinery being moved up the valley. We need to continue to work on this until it is safe.
We will have specialised crews onsite from Tuesday – hoping to get the job done by Friday, weather and truck availability permitting.
Huonbrook and Huonbrook Valley
It’s estimated there are still around 160 people in this area who are impacted and emergency services were on the ground today providing supplies and trying to find communication work-arounds for people who’ve lost phone and internet connections.
The scale of damage and the devastation caused by landslides is making it extremely difficult to restore road access.
We have pipes and materials organised for Huonbrook Washout One and we are planning to take these and a smaller excavator to site tomorrow (Tuesday). Our aim is to have this washout repaired by the weekend.
Once this is repaired we will have access to Wanganui Road and the big slips in Huonbrook. There is no quick and easy solution unfortunately. It’s going to take a lot of time to make sure the road is safe for vehicles to travel on.
Main Arm and Williams Bridge
Work continues on restoring access at Williams Bridge. We’re hoping to have these bridge works completed in the next few weeks.
Upper Coopers Creek – Englishes bridge
Contractors are onsite this week working on a temporary access.
Report It, Report It, Report It
Please continue to report road and infrastructure damage, including potholes, via the Report It tab on our website.
Temporary Housing
The NSW Government is preparing a temporary housing support package to help people who need accommodation support in the coming weeks and months.
You can register to receive further information here – Get notified about floods temporary housing support package | Service NSW
Grants and Government Financial Assistance
- Call Services Australia on 180 22 66.
- Services Australia website
- myGov website.
- Service NSW website (including Storm and flood assistance for businesses | Service NSW)
Health Tips
Go to Council’s website for important information on:
- mould
- rainwater tanks
- septic systems
- swimming pools
- mosquitoes and increased danger after floods
- Water quality on beaches, creeks and swimming holes
Cavanbah Centre
The Cavanbah Centre is operating as usual from 8am – 6pm, 7 days a week.
It is also offering hot showers to people who have been out helping with recovery operations. BYO towel and toiletries.
Council Services
- The Customer Service Centre is open from 8:30am – 4pm Monday to Friday
- Email council@byron.nsw.gov.au
- Report non-urgent requests online using Report It
- For after-hours emergencies call 02 6622 7022
There are also Council staff available at the Flood Recovery Centre at the Civic Hall in Mullumbimby.
For the latest information on Council services go to our website (www.byron.nsw.gov.au) or our Facebook page.
Byron Shire’s Emergency Dashboard also has links to the SES, BOM and road closure information.
