Floods: ‘Disaster tourists’ hampering clean up efforts in Tumbulgum

ANNOYING out-of-towners are flocking to flood-ravaged areas of northern NSW and hampering clean-up efforts. And frustrated locals have had enough.

Locals are flat-strapped cleaning up after the floods but disaster tourists are hampering clean up efforts in Tumbulgum. Picture Glenn Hampson

‘DISASTER tourists’ are flocking to flood-ravaged areas and hampering clean up efforts.

Locals in Tumbulgum, in northern NSW, are frustrated at masses of out-of-owners who have come to the town — camera in hand — to take a gander at the flood devastation.

Tumbulgum General Store owner Geoff Butterworth said scores of ‘disaster tourists’ had invaded the town this week once flood waters receded and were causing havoc while bulldozers and graders were trying to clear the damage.

“This year has been really bad, worse than 2013 when we blocked the road to stop them coming in,” he said.

Tumbulgum General Store owner Geoff Butterworth is pleading with disaster tourists to stay away. Picture Glenn Hampson

“We’ve got graders and dozers trying to clean up and these people are driving along with their cameras hanging out the window.

“We don’t want them driving around because there is mud all over the road and it’s hampering our efforts.

“If you don’t want to help us, stay away please, we just want to clean up.”

Mr Butterworth said the townsfolk appreciated the dozens of people, including many from the Gold Coast, who helped with the clean up and handed out food.

Flood victim’s start clean-up

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Scenes of devastation at Tumbulgum. Picture Glenn Hampson