This is our last Flood Recovery Update as we head into the Easter long-weekend. Please note that both the Flood Recovery Centre at the Civic Hall in Mullumbimby and the Byron Resource and Recovery Centre will be closed for the public holidays from Friday 15 April to Monday 19 April.
Next week we return to bringing you the latest Council news via our regular fortnightly Byron Shire E-News. But we'll continue providing all the latest information on roadworks, flood-waste and support for the community on our website and Facebook. You can also ring us during office hours with any questions.
Our road crews are continuing to repair the damage done to our hinterland roads following the last severe weather event on 28 March. Good progress is being made but we remind everyone that these holidays are not a good time for a trip to the hinterland's National Parks and waterfalls.
Unfortunately, an increase in traffic to Upper Main Arm is causing further road damage and access issues for locals. We really need to get on top of the repair works for these communities and holidaymakers and 'flood tourists' are compromising this. It's local traffic only for our hinterland roads.
Another impact of the floods has been the havoc wreaked on our estuaries and beaches with huge volumes of soil, debris and contaminants flushing downstream and into the ocean.
Byron Shire's beaches have been understandably turbid and murky for a long time – but is it safe for a swim or surf yet?
Our most recent water quality tests from 5 April show 'good' results for Torakina and Tallow Beach, a 'fair' score for Clarkes and Main Beaches in Byron Bay and a 'poor' result for Simpsons Creek in Brunswick Heads. These results are from a point in time and conditions do change every day.
The message from Council is that, if the water is dirty or discoloured, and with knowledge of the recent floods in the Byron Shire, people need to accept there may be some risks associated with swimming, surfing, and entering the water.
The risks are higher for immune-compromised people, children and the elderly.
We are hoping to receive our next water quality lab results on Thursday 14 April and will publish them on our website at Water quality of our beaches and waterways.
Roads update
Main Arm – Williams Bridge
We've made great progress on Williams Bridge in Main Arm but it will remain closed for Easter. The concrete approach slabs need some time to cure before they can be driven on.
We expect to have the work completed and the bridge open by the following weekend, depending on weather and contractor availability.
Upper Main Arm
We have two crews in Upper Main Arm this week with their goal being to improve and clear out table drains, pipes and causeways.
They are also working on improving access to make it more friendly for 2WDs. With a bit of luck this will be done by Thursday.
Until we get the foundations down, some of the roads in the Upper Main Arm area are still only open only for resident and emergency access.
Once we have access to all areas, we'll start work on more long-term solutions for the roads.
Finally - we are also working on a washout on Motts Road and are hoping to finish this today (Wednesday 13 April).
Upper Wilsons Creek
Contractors are working on restoring road conditions for 2WD vehicles, from the first causeway back into the valley. This is what has been achieved to date:
- Completed causeways 4 and 5 and commenced causeway 6 - unblocking the upstream side and moving rock and debris to line the banks.
- Continued to recut and clean out side drains and widen road formation where required between causeways 3, 4 and 5.
Huonbrook
We are still doing earthwork to remove debris.
Soil nail stabilisation for the first, initial section will finish today.
Our aim is to make the road safe for the Easter long-weekend.
Mill Road (Huonbrook)
We're doing emergency work on this road to give residents safer access.
Wanganui
We were able to clear the Wanganui landslips last week and 2WD access is open to the end of the road.
Coopers Creek
Temporary fixes to Englishes Bridge were finished late yesterday and traffic access has been restored.
A contractor will start improving 2WD access on Uppers Coopers Creek Road next week.
Federal Drive
A specialist consultant visited the site this week to do a risk assessment and we are preparing a safe design and construction protocol. The next step is getting a contractor to complete stabilisation work on the site.
The area around the landslip on Federal Drive is still moving and is unstable. Please stay away.
Flood clean-up
Book your free flood waste drop off
Just a reminder that our kerbside flood-waste collection has finished.
If you have flood damaged items, you can take them to the Byron Resource Recovery Centre but please note that we will be CLOSED over the Easter weekend (Friday 15 April to Monday 18 April).
