Our usual ‘Flood Recovery’ update today has become a Flood Update as we find ourselves yet again at the centre of a severe weather and flooding event around the Byron Shire. Unfortunately, the danger is not over yet. Read more about the BOM weather forecast below.
Our thoughts are with our community today, many of whom would have endured a very stressful afternoon and night as roads and causeways were flooded and cut off in the hinterland and as SES evacuation warnings and then orders were put in place for low lying parts of Mullumbimby and its CBD, and parts of Billinudgel.
It is hard to believe that we are facing flooding and the trauma associated with it for a second time so soon after the first flood.
We hope everyone is keeping safe and that those needing assistance have been able to seek support from family and friends or attend one of the two evacuation centres open in the Byron Shire including:
- Mullumbimby Ex-Services Club, 58 Dalley St
- Ocean Shores Country Club, Orana Rd
If you need assistance in floods and storms, please call 132 500. If the situation is life-threatening please call 000 immediately. Please keep an eye on the SES Website for evacuation alerts and weather warnings.
News from the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM)
At 9:50am this morning, the Bureau of Meteorology issued a severe weather warning for damaging winds and heavy rainfall for the Northern Rivers over the coming 24 hours (into Wednesday). While this is definitely not what we want to hear after the last 24 hours, it’s an evolving and changing situation. You can keep abreast of the latest information on this web page: BOM Weather warning.
Council’s emergency dashboard is an incredible resource in an emergency, designed to give you links through to all the important information you might need from one spot.
Roads update
Weather events like this can compromise the emergency roadworks we’ve been doing over the last month. There are over 25 roads closed in the Shire and many more with extreme caution warnings. Please limit travel to essential travel only. If you need to drive, please take note of site conditions and check Live Traffic NSW to plan your route. If it is flooded, forget it.
Landslides and slips
At the time of publishing this update, Council has been notified of three potential slips at Upper Coopers Creek and has closed Coopers Creek Road and will be investigating as soon as it is safe to do so. Rainfall and saturation of this scale can contribute to landslides and slips and we are monitoring this situation closely, supporting the lead agency for landslides, the NSW Police.
Do not play in storm or flood water
It is very important that people don’t play in stormwater or flood water as it may be contaminated with sewage and other hazards. Further information is available at NSW Health.
Council has cleared debris from floodgates on the eastern side of the South Golden Beach canal to keep the flood pump clear, but unfortunately the western side is jammed open and currently too dangerous for staff to clear it. The water is likely to rise with more rain and the rising tide. Residents west of the canal should monitor conditions and be ready to act accordingly.
Conserve water in Mullumbimby
The Mullumbimby Water Treatment Plant is currently offline due to heavy rainfall and is expected to remain offline for several days. What this means is that while our potable water reservoirs in Mullumbimby have plenty of water at the moment, we ask the community to be conservative with water usage until we get the Water Treatment Plant operational again.
IMPORTANT NOTE: THE WATER IS SAFE TO DRINK.
Changes to recovery services
The Mullumbimby Recovery Centre is closed today and tomorrow (Wednesday 30th March) due to the weather event and will reopen on Thursday if it is safe to do so.
Remember that you can access a whole range of assistance and services via the Service NSW website or book an appointment with a flood recovery customer care specialist. Or call Service NSW on 13 77 88 7 days a week between 7am and 10pm (Sydney time).
Libraries in Mullumbimby and Brunswick Heads not open today
Libraries are closed today in Mullumbimby and Brunswick Heads. Keep an eye on Council’s webpage and facebook for updates to operating hours at these facilities over coming days.
Need to call Council today? Send us an email instead if you can
Council office staff are working remotely on Tuesday 29 and Wednesday 30 March while Mullumbimby is at risk of flooding. The front counter will remain closed and there may be delays answering Council’s phones, so we prefer you to email us at council@byron.nsw.gov.au if you’re able to or use Council’s Report It tool. Thank you for your patience and understanding at this time.
