North Byron flood recovery and response

A large portion of Byron Shire residents have been devastated by floods, with one advocate pushing for change in the “always ignored” part of the tourist hub.

A long “ignored” region of Byron Shire is calling for more assistance and long-term support after floods devastated residents earlier this year.

North Byron, which includes Ocean Shores, South Golden Beach and Billinudgel among others, is home to approximately 12,00 people, 5000 homes and a few hundred business.

It is the less talked about section of the glamorous tourist hub and home to furious flood affected residents who are calling for change to ensure they’re no longer forgotten.

On the morning of February 28, Francesca Esposito was one of the few residents with a landline who received warning her South Golden Beach street could be flooded.

When the Byron Bay CBD flooded on March 30, weeks after the first flood, the weather event made national media.

At that time, a manual pump was diverting floodwater back into Yelgun Creek and streets were filled steady at knee height.

However, at 10am, power cut out as did the pump and within 15 minutes, water rose to mid-thigh height.

Ms Esposito, trying to evacuate, was cut off from the Oceans Shores evacuation centre and left without phone or internet.

It would take almost a week for waters to recede and by then, one metre of floodwater had stormed through her property.

Many homes across South Golden Beach are still suffering with the aftermath of the 2022 flood event, even in May.

But it wasn’t until a community meeting Ms Esposito truly realised the extent of heartbreak around the region where people were reduced to “third world conditions”.

“I found out there’s people sleeping in sleeping bags in their mouldy lounge rooms, and people sleeping in tents in their backyards,” she said.

“They have no hot water, no kitchen, they’re eating off a BBQ, no phone, no internet, no power, and we’re coming into quite a cold wet winter.

“There’s so much catastrophe, it’s just far worse than you could ever imagine.”

Francesca Esposito speaks at a North Byron Community Flood meeting

Collecting the flood impact statement for the region, Ms Esposito had heard countless ideas on how to rebuild the region.

From elevating homes to pushing for subsidised insurance and better communication and satellite reception, Ms Esposito said the North Byron rebuild could be a “billion dollar project” on its own.

A lot of resident’s concerns also lay in overlooked maintenance such as drain clearing.

“The North Byron district has always been ignored,” she said.

“It’s 30 per cent of Byron Shire … but we don’t have a third of the maintenance budget, a third of capital works, we’re largely ignored.

“The widespread sentiment across the community is that if drains were cleared and maintenance was up to date the flooding wouldn't have been anywhere near as bad and may have been avoided in some areas.”

South Golden Beach has seen rental prices skyrocket over recent years, making housing alternatives for residents incredibly difficult. Beach Ave, seen here, was inundated in the February 2022 floods according to Ms Esposito

This week a steering committee for the region was formed and discussions with hydrologists, surveyors and more had already begun.

Ms Esposito said it was about making sure the “community is heard” and that mitigation measures focused on community desires like keeping houses.

She noted the average rent per week for the North Byron district was between $1200 and $1600 and some households could be looking at two to three years away from their homes.

“Housing was already at a crisis point before a few extra thousand people needed a house,” she said.

“We want to make sure people don’t lose their homes.

“Who has $70,000 to 200,000 lying around to pay for rent?”

North Byron residents calls for change at an Community Flood meeting

Byron Shire Council received 29 notices of motion, with the council tabling them and promising to reach an outcome by June 22.

Between state MP Tamara Smith, Federal MP Justine Elliott and Federal hopeful, Ms Esposito said about 11 to 12 of those motions were already being actioned.
It comes as she urges residents to speak up with their own story.

The more data we collect the stronger our state flood inquiry submission will be,” she said.

“That’s the only way we can show all levels of government that we won’t be ignored anymore and that the North Byron district matters.

“Everybody knows all levels of government have let us down … that have let us down catastrophically.

“But it’s such a catastrophe that everyone is now listening.

“Now is the time for everybody to speak up and be involved … so that we can get the funding we need to repair, rehabilitate and future proof our area.”

Ms Esposito is collecting flood impacts and can be contacted via [e-mail] or 0411881717.