The clean up and recovery phase across the Shire continues and we have many hard days ahead.
On behalf of Council, it is a heartfelt thank you to the emergency responders, volunteers, family, friends and neighbours who are helping out. Your energy and generosity is greatly appreciated and welcomed in this time of crisis.
Our community will experience enormous shock for many more days and Council is working tirelessly to restore services and ask for additional NSW and Australian Government assistance.
Residents are asked to continue to listen to the ABC radio for updates and monitor Byron Shire Council's Emergency Dashboard.
Unfortunately, Council communication services continue to be impacted – we are working with our service providers get this back up and running as soon as possible.
Mullum Farmers Markets
The wonderful Mullum Farmers Markets will be at the Mullumbimby Council building car park on Friday morning, 4 March, from 6am.
There will be about 10 stalls with fresh produce only.
With food supplies hard to source, this is a great service.
Many thanks to our local producers who are helping out.
Roads
Byron Shire Council is anticipating an infrastructure damage repair bill of up to a hundred million dollars.
Council's Infrastructure Services Director Phil Holloway said staff inspections were grim and it will take months for some communities to have full access returned.
"Some of the roads in the hinterland have been totally destroyed.
"The already wet landscapes and extreme rainfall volumes have caused damage that we have not experienced before.
"We are seeing hundreds of meters of road simply washed away, gaping holes where causeways and bridges used to be and landslips covering roads.
"Requests for support from the ADF and NSW Public Works have been submitted, but with severe damage throughout the Northern Rivers, their resources will be stretched.
"Damage reports are being collated and will be submitted to the NSW Government for funding support," he said.
Catastrophic road infrastructure impacts have occurred in the following areas:
Englishes Bridges at Upper Coopers Creek has a huge landslip, and the bridge is gone. Currently impassable and not accessible.
Wilson Creek Road, Wilsons Creek has multiples land slips, causeway failures, pavement damage and trees down. Currently impassable and not accessible.
Left Bank Road, Mullumbimby Creek - two landslips, two causeways failed and one approach severely damaged. Currently impassable and not accessible.
Williams Bridge at Main Arm is severely damaged and needs a full replacement. Two causeways are severely damaged and require full replacement including approaches. There are likely more damaged causeways further up the road.
Palmwoods and Upper Main Arm - large land slips have destroyed access. Hundreds of meters of roads have been washed away.
At Federal and Goonengerry there are numerous landslips.
Mr Holloway warned that the list of damaged roads would be extensive over the coming days.
"It is currently beyond Council's capacity to restore the road network within near future and like our neighouring areas, we are seeking help from local contractors.
"Unfortunately, we are anticipating in some areas road closures will be in place for weeks if not months.
