2022 Floods

Byron Shire Flood Recovery Update – Thursday 3 March

Published

3 years ago

4 March 2022

JeffG

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Byron Shire Flood Recovery Update – Thursday 3 March

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.

“Council will advise residents and impacted communities as soon as we can have more information. With no communications, destroyed roads and stretched staff, this is proving challenging.

“Please be assured we are working around the clock to get to as many people and places as we can,” Mr Holloway said.

People travelling or commuting should check My Road Info before they head out.

And please no sightseeing; the roads are needed for emergency workers, service crews and accessing essential items such as food, water, medical supplies and fuel.

Extreme caution must be used when travelling in the Shire. 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 – Mullumbimby critical shortage

The water main break at Mullumbimby was fixed today.

Crews are working tonight (weather permitting) to continue filling Azalea Reservoir. The Water treatment plant in Mullumbimby is working and we are starting to feel more positive. Airlocks are being worked on by the crew now.

Water tankers have also been used today to top up the water supply and will return tomorrow.

Please continue to use water sparingly and only for essential purposes of drinking, cooking and showers. Delay using your hose for cleaning up – every drop counts to help us replenish the water supply.

Water from the tap does not need to be boiled.

Bottle water continues to be available at the Mullumbimby Civic Hall.

Rous County Council also asks the community to be mindful of their water use during the current flood disaster and where possible, reduce their water consumption .

Kerbside pick-up

Contract crews organised by Byron Shire Council arrived in Mullumbimby yesterday (Wednesday 2 March) and started clearing flood-damaged waste from the kerbs.

These crews are continuing to work through Mullumbimby and also moved in to some parts of Brunswick Heads this afternoon.

They continue to move through other parts of the Shire with the schedule currently:
Mullumbimby – started 2 March
Azalea Street will be done early Monday morning (7 March). Residents are asked not to park along the road Monday morning so the rubbish can be picked up quickly and safely. Traffic management will be in place.
Brunswick Heads – Monday 6, Tuesday 7 and Wednesday 8 March
Billinudgel and The Pocket – Wednesday 9 March onwards
North Ocean Shores (Low lying areas) – Wednesday 9 March onwards
New Brighton- Wednesday 9 March onwards
South Golden Beach – Thursday 10 March, Friday 11 March and into following week.

To help us please:
Do not put hazardous waste (e.g. chemical drums, paint, asbestos) out on kerbside because they won’t be collected.
Tyres are not flood waste and won’t be collected.
White goods like fridges and large metal items should be separated and they will collected separately and recycled. Take the food out of the fridge please.
Rotting waste should be put in red bins – not on kerbside with bulk waste.
If possible – park cars off road so clean ups can occur safely and quickly.
Skip bins
NSW Public Works staff are now working with Council and the plan is to set up some skip bins at Ocean Shores at the northern end of Orana Road (salad bowl) and the northern end of Shara Boulevard.
We are still working through the logistics of this and will let you know when we know more.

Donations
Please – think before you give
Our Communities are renowned for being generous. It’s in our nature to do what we can to help. But we are asking the community to donate responsibly.

Please do not donate unrequested items.

We need to ensure local organisations aren’t inundated with donations they do not need and cannot store.

Local Emergency Management Committees are liaising with State Government agencies to ensure that the critical and immediate needs of communities are met.

Donations can be dropped to the Mullumbimby Civic Hall and they will assist with getting them to where they are needed. They are open from 8.30am to 8.30pm, including the weekend. Items currently needed include:
Cleaning items – mops, broom, buckets, hard scrubbing brushes and shovels.
Wet weather gear – raincoats, gumboots
Antiseptic, band aids and bandages
Food – nonperishables
Gas bottles – filled and not out of date
Lighting – candles, torches
NO BEDDING IS REQUIRED
NO CLOTHING IS REQUIRED – except for wet weather clothing gear.

Please consider:

Managing the disposal of unneeded goods by organisations takes time, resources and costs. Unsolicited donations often end up warehoused or in landfill, making clean-up operations more difficult and costly for communities.

The best way to support this important work is to check with reputable charities about what they are being asked to provide.

Established organisations, like GIVIT, are working with government agencies and local communities to manage offers of donated items, services and funds for people impacted by floods across parts of NSW. This will ensure a coordinated approach to helping people in need, without burdening local volunteer organisations.

Key donation links:
https://www.givit.org.au/storms-and-flooding
https://www.redcross.org.au/floodsappeal/
https://donate.vinnies.org.au/appeals-nsw/vinnies-nsw-flood-appeal
https://www.salvationarmy.org.au/donate/make-a-donation/donate-online/?appeal=2022floodappealhp

Thank you to everyone for your support during these challenging times.

Please stay safe and drive carefully when on the roads.

Evacuation Centre
The Ocean Shores Country Club remains the evacuation centre for Byron Shire.

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 business people and farmers who have lost income as a result of the floods.

The allowance provides for a maximum of 13 weeks payment from the date people have, or will lose, income as a result 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

Water height
While devastatingly fresh in our minds, impacted residents are being asked to measure and record the water height and save photos.

Council will be seeking this data in coming weeks to measure impacts and improve flood mapping and to support our claim for disaster recovery funding.

Sandhills childcare centre
The centre will remained closed for the remainder of the week until debris can be removed.

Council offices
The Byron Shire Council administration building will be closed until the end of the week and staff have also been personally impacted.

Council has been impacted by the major network outages and as a result our phone system and internet service continues to be down.

Communication services with phone and internet are limited. We are working hard to return to full services by Monday.

Our after hours service is available to take limited calls on 02 6622 7022.

We have skeleton staff available to access our remote systems and can be contact via email council@byron.nsw.gov.au

For all emergencies and life threatening situations please contact the SES 132 500 or 000.

People can also report road damage etc on the Report It tab on our website.

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2022 Floods

Resilient Lismore Urges Flood-Affected Residents to Access Repair to Return Project

Published

2 weeks ago

30 August 2024

Liam

Resilient Lismore Repair to Return Project

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Resilient Lismore Urges Flood-Affected Residents to Access Repair to Return Project

By Robert Heyward

Resilient Lismore is proud to announce the ongoing success of the Repair to Return Project, a vital initiative aimed at supporting homeowners devastated by the 2022 Northern Rivers floods and landslides. This project, supported by the NSW Government, the Diocese of Lismore, the Winsome Soup Kitchen, and the Rotary Club of Goonellabah, has already restored over 600 homes to safe, secure, and liveable conditions—all at no cost to the homeowners. Now, Resilient Lismore is calling on more members of the Northern Rivers community to seek assistance through this program.

Elly Bird, Executive Director of Resilient Lismore, is urging residents still living in flood-damaged homes across the Northern Rivers to reach out for help. “It’s been more than two years since the 2022 floods, and many people are still living in affected homes while trying to carry on with their daily lives. We are deeply committed to partnering with homeowners to understand their individual needs and assist them on their recovery journeys,” Bird said.

“Our ultimate goal is to ensure that every flood-affected home in the region is safe and liveable. That’s why I’m encouraging anyone in need to get in touch with us. We’re dedicated to building a stronger, more resilient Northern Rivers,” she added.

The Repair to Return Project, formerly known as the Two Rooms Project, mobilises professional tradespeople and trained volunteers to restore flood-affected homes using flood-resilient materials.

The comprehensive range of services offered includes:

Reinstating bathrooms and kitchens
Electrical support
Re-sheeting walls
Installing or repairing stairs for safe access
Repairing or replacing floors
Providing lockable windows and doors

In addition to these core services, Resilient Lismore also offers tools and equipment, assistance in sourcing furniture and whitegoods, and referrals to community services such as mental health support, legal assistance, and financial counselling.

One local resident, Carlie Daley from East Lismore, was among those who benefited from the program. With no insurance and ineligible for grants or the home buyback program, Carlie faced an uncertain future until she connected with Resilient Lismore. The organization helped her restore parts of her kitchen, install a new bathroom, and replace damaged glass. “I had no money, so Resilient Lismore really came to my rescue. I’m so thankful because I wanted to live in my house with my kids—they go to school locally, and this is their home,” Carlie said.

“It’s been a challenge to ask for help, but once you realise you’ve got your kids to think about, you find that Resilient Lismore makes it really easy. They’re one of the best sources of help out there, and they’re coming from a place of genuine community support,” she added.

Resilient Lismore is also encouraging local businesses to contribute to the recovery efforts. The organisation welcomes donations of fridges, washing machines, new or near-new bedding and towels, and monetary funds.

“Every donation, no matter the size, makes a significant impact. By coming together, we can help our neighbour’s and strengthen our communities,” Bird emphasised.

Their Stories

Carlie Daley, East Lismore
Carlie Daley, whose family has lived in the region for six generations, bought a house in East Lismore a year before the floods. As a single parent with two children, she had experienced floods before but didn’t anticipate her home being affected given its location. “I bought the house based on where the 1974 flood lines were, and even my dad, who has been through a few floods, thought I’d be fine,” Carlie explained.

On the morning of 28 February 2022, at approximately 6 am, Carlie heard loud banging outside her house. When she opened her front door to investigate, water came streaming into her living room. The water rose to waist height rapidly, and Carlie and her children decided to evacuate. “Everything was floating in the house—it was not good,” Carlie recalled. “I managed to flag down a guy in a boat, and he took us out to Wyrallah Road one by one.”

After spending several months with family, Carlie returned to her home. With no insurance or access to the home buyback program, Carlie sought help from Resilient Lismore, who restored parts of her kitchen, replaced broken glass, and installed a new bathroom. “I had no money, so Resilient Lismore really came to the rescue. I’m so thankful because I wanted to live in my house with the kids—this is their home,” Carlie said.

Duran, Woodburn
Before 2022, Duran had never experienced a flood. When he heard about the impending flood in Woodburn, he packed a bag and left with his dog. After spending 11 days in emergency accommodation, Duran returned to find his home extensively damaged. “The scene was horrendous; it smelled like a pig farm. There was nothing you could do; you couldn’t blame anyone,” Duran said.

Many of Duran’s belongings were unsalvageable, doors and windows were broken, there was no electricity, and a large tree had crashed through his house. “I ended up putting together a makeshift kitchen and had access to a shower and toilet underneath the house. I was quoted over $25,000 to rewire the electricals, so that put me off doing anything for a while,” Duran explained.

Introduced to Resilient Lismore, Duran experienced an almost immediate transformation. After an initial visit, Resilient Lismore returned a week later with supplies, and a local construction business fitted his house with a brand-new kitchen and bathroom. “What Resilient Lismore did was amazing; there is no way in a million years I would have been able to do what they did. It has also allowed my son to come and live with me, which has been wonderful,” Duran said.

Susan, Lismore
Susan lived alone in her idyllic riverfront home, which provided everything she needed—until the 2022 floods caused significant damage to her property. With COVID-19 rampant, Susan moved between emergency accommodations and stayed with friends. When she tried to return to her home, the emotional toll proved overwhelming. “I went back a few times, but every time I tried, I burst into tears,” Susan said.

She began receiving counselling and eventually stayed with her son in Queensland for a period. When Susan returned to Lismore several months later, she connected with Social Futures, who informed her about Resilient Lismore. Initially hesitant to accept help, Susan was moved by the support she received. “I was brought up not to ask for help, so when Resilient Lismore immediately came around with tradespeople, I had nothing but tears of gratitude,” she said.

Within a few months, Resilient Lismore, with the help of tradespeople, built a new deck and stairs, added state-of-the-art dekkoplus wall cladding, and installed a new kitchen and bathroom. Susan hopes others living in flood-affected homes will reach out to Resilient Lismore. “The staff from Resilient Lismore were respectful and kind. I was scared and overwhelmed, but getting in touch with Resilient Lismore motivated and inspired me to move forward with my recovery,” she said.

About Resilient Lismore
Resilient Lismore is a registered charity and community-based organisation that was formed following the 2017 floods in Lismore, NSW. Powered by volunteers, the organisation supports Northern Rivers residents in rebuilding their lives by connecting them with qualified tradespeople, volunteer help, and essential recovery services.

For more local Lismore news, click here.

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2022 Floods

$928,350 GRANT AWARDED TO CLEAN REMAINING FLOOD WASTE

Published

1 month ago

7 August 2024

Liam

Flood Clean-up Grant given to Lismore City Council.

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$928,350 GRANT AWARDED TO CLEAN REMAINING FLOOD WASTE

Member for Lismore, Janelle Saffin has announced that the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) has awarded Lismore City Council a grant of $928,350. This is to support the ongoing 2022 flood clean-up and recovery work.

“Natural disaster clean-up and recovery is a long-term process. Those with experience of disaster recovery will know that bulky and contaminated waste often remains for some time after the initial clean-up.

“Often this waste isn’t revealed until way down the recovery track so this money is very timely.

“The council has been awarded the grant under Round 2 of the EPA’s Illegal Dumping and Flood Waste Recovery Program, which is designed to help public authorities resolve flood waste issues remaining after the initial clean-up phase, including illegally dumped flood waste and bulky flood waste.

“Lismore City Council will use the grant money to safely remove and dispose of residual fragments of flood waste containing asbestos. The clean-up works will be project managed by the council using specially trained local contractors and are expected to be completed in 2025.

“Significant amounts of hazardous debris were generated by severe flooding events that inundated the Northern Rivers in the early months of 2022.

“The EPA has led several clean-up and recovery programs in the region to ensure waste left behind following the floods is removed safely and efficiently.

Lismore Mayor Steve Krieg said:

“I would like to thank the EPA and State Government for this grant.

“As everyone knows the 2022 natural disaster did a great deal of damage to the natural environment as well as the built environment.

“The grant is specifically intended to cover the removal of flood generated waste containing asbestos that has been found on public land in the Lismore LGA which will make a safer place to live, work and raise a family.

For more 2022 floods news, click here.

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2022 Floods

Door Knock Survey in Flood Zone Your story is important

Published

1 month ago

31 July 2024

Liam

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Door Knock Survey in Flood Zone – Your story is important

Resilient Lismore Launches Community Survey with Red Cross, Social Futures, Uniting, and The Lismore Chaplaincy Network

Resilient Lismore, in collaboration with Red Cross, Social Futures, Uniting, and The Lismore Chaplaincy Network, is conducting a community survey to gather data on how residents are coping after the 2022 floods. Teams will be knocking on doors in Lismore this week, encouraging those affected to participate.

Why Participate?

If your property was affected by the 2022 floods, your input is invaluable. The data collected will help us understand the community’s progress, inform recovery programs, and enhance flood risk management. We also aim to ensure residents are aware of ongoing recovery support services.

How to Complete the Survey

You can participate in several ways:

In Person: Complete the survey when our team visits your home.
By Phone: Call the Resilient Lismore Hub at 0455 218 692 to complete the survey over the phone.
At the Hub: Visit us at 215 Keen St to fill out the survey in person.
Online: Fill out the survey on your phone, tablet, or computer using this link.
Ensure you select your address from the options provided when entering it. The online survey is open until midnight, 12th August 2024.

Thank you for adding your voice! The collected information from the flood zone survey will be shared with the government and other stakeholders to reflect the community’s needs accurately.

For more local Lismore news, click here.

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