Diary of a Flood Survivor

By Samantha Elley

Beyond excited is how many Woodburn residents are feeling at the moment.

That’s because there has been movement at the station. The petrol station, that is.

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For the past two years, we have watched the Caltex petrol station stand forlorn with cyclone fencing around it, as if to say, ‘Nup, not interested’.

Just recently, however, there were ripples of rumours surrounding the space and one of them was that Caltex had sold the business and land to another company.

And it seems this rumour has hit gold.

Metro Petroleum are preparing to trade in Woodburn.

It doesn’t take a journalist to find this out. Just a simple walk past and you can see all the signage already up.

And so the residents rejoice!

No longer will we have to calculate if a quarter of a quarter of a tank is enough to get us to Broadwater (which has TWO petrol stations just quietly) or Evans Head to fill up before we have to head off to Ballina, Lismore or Casino.

No longer will we be stopped by travellers passing through, who have only pulled off the bypass because they are running on vapours, only to see the look of desperation in their eyes when we tell them they still have another ten minute journey before they can get petrol.

No longer will the petrol station look so forlorn and stand as a reminder of what the flood has taken away from our little village.

Now, without sounding greedy, our next goal is to get the local IGA back on its feet, so buying groceries won’t be such a thought out chore or negotiation with neighbours and their pantries, as well.

Little steps.

For more 2022 floods news, click here.