The Brunswick River and Marshalls Creek peaked below minor flood levels this morning, the severe weather has eased, and we are now moving into clean up and recovery phase across the Shire. We appreciate that many in our community will be experiencing enormous shock and heartbreak at this time.
We know people in the Byron Shire are strong and resilient and we will get through the days, weeks and months ahead together.
We are being inundated with requests for information about our roads, flood clean up and offers of support and donations for those impacted.
We are working with the local Resilience Network on a coordinated approach to donations and offers of support.
We will update our Facebook page when more information is available.
Roads and bridges
Our team is assessing the damage across our road and bridge network and it at this early stage it is extensive with one bridge (Englishes Bridge) washed away.
Some areas are inaccessible and extreme caution must be used when travelling in the Shire today. Do not travel through flood waters.
For information on road closures go to the map on the front page of our emergency dashboard.
To report road damage, use the Report It tab on our website.
Water restrictions
Because of damage to Lavertys Gap weir, our treatment plant and Rous County Council infrastructure there is limited available water supply in Mullumbimby. People are asked to restrict their water use and if water from taps is brown or looks dirty boil it or alternatively use bottled water.
In other parts of the Shire people are asked to use water sparingly.
Clean up
Our resource recovery team is working to source contractor trucks to pick up and collect flood waste today. We will have more advice on this later this morning. The Resource Recovery Centre at Myocum remains closed.
Garbage services to rural areas are cancelled until roads are clear. Services in urban areas are continuing as normal. If bins are not collected on the normal day, they will be emptied as soon as possible.
Donations
Council’s Community Services team is working with the local Resilience Network to provide support and ensure a coordinated approach to donations and offers of support across the Shire.
We will have more details on this later today. We will also have more advice on how volunteers can connect with local organising groups.
Connecting with loved ones
The Red Cross is managing a register to help people connect with loved ones who may have been impacted during this event.
Disaster funding
The Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment (AGDRP) of $1,000 per eligible adult and $400 per eligible child is available for people impacted by a flood event.
The AGDRP is a one-off, non-means tested payment and is available to eligible people in the Byron Shire who have suffered a significant loss, including a severely damaged or destroyed home or serious injury.
The Disaster Recovery Allowance (DRA) is also available.
The DRA helps employees, small businesses and farmers who have lost income because of the floods.
The allowance provides for a maximum of 13 weeks payment from the date people have, or will lose, income because of the disaster.
The DRA is set at the maximum equivalent rate of the Jobseeker payment or Youth Allowance.
How to claim
Claims for the AGDRP and the DRA are open from 2pm today, 1 March 2022.
Call Services Australia on 180 22 66.
Via the myGov website.
Go to the Services Australia website
Council offices
The Mullumbimby Customer Service office is closed until later this week.
The reason for this is that our staff have been impacted by the floods and there has been some flood damage as well.
Staff are available to help via email council@byron.nsw.gov.au or call our after hours emergency number 02 6622 7022. People can also report road damage etc on the Report It tab on our website.
