Covid fragments found in Byron sewage, Northern Rivers mayors want lockdown to end

They also want to see tighter restrictions for people travelling to the region from hot spots such as Greater Sydney, and the deputy premier said he is open to discuss further restrictions if required.

A semi-deserted Jonson St, the main commercial area in Byron Bay.

Mayors from across the Northern Rivers have united in a call for the NSW Government to end lockdown on Friday night.

The mayors of the Byron, Ballina, Tweed, Lismore, Richmond Valley and Kyogle Councils have stressed no Covid-19 cases have been recorded in the region since three cases in early August.

Those cases, which sparked the region’s initial lockdown before it was imposed for the entire state, were three members of the same family who had travelled from Sydney before testing positive.

Speaking on behalf of the region’s leaders, Byron mayor Michael Lyon said lockdown was taking a huge toll on local businesses and communities.

“Lifting the lockdown would allow our businesses to reopen, people to get back to work and our communities to reconnect,” Mr Lyon said.

Byron mayor Michael Lyon (left) and Richmond Valley mayor Robert Mustow are among those who have called for lockdown to be lifted.

“While we are not experiencing anything remotely like the restrictions in parts of Sydney, our small businesses really are suffering and allowing them to trade again would be a huge boost to confidence across the Northern Rivers.”

He said a “blanket approach” to lockdown was not appropriate.

The mayors hope if the Northern Rivers is released from lockdown, more negotiations regarding strict border rules would be possible with the Queensland government.

They also want to see tighter restrictions for people travelling to the region from hot spots such as Greater Sydney.

“We have the situation where people are being allowed to leave Sydney to come to places like Byron Bay to film commercials, or televisions programs and that seems quite ludicrous when someone from the Lismore Local Government Area can’t go to a shop in Ballina or visit a friend in Casino,” Mr Lyon said.

A QML Pathology drive-through Covid-19 testing clinic in Byron Bay.

“Until things stabilise in Sydney and until we get our vaccination rates up we ask that travel outside of Sydney be limited to only the very essential, or for compassionate reasons.”

No formal request says Barilaro

NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro said he has not received a formal request from local mayors about further restrictions to travel from Sydney into the area.

“The reasons for travel from Sydney to the regions are already very limited, but I am always happy to consider further if there are examples like we have seen in other areas, but they have not approached me yet,” he said.

While there are no recorded Covid-19 cases within the Northern NSW Local Health District, acting chief executive Lynne Weir has confirmed a further detection of virus fragments in Byron Bay sewage.

Ms Weir urged anyone in that region with even the mildest symptoms to get tested.

The latest detection, reported on Sunday, came from a sample taken from Byron Bay Sewerage Treatment Plant on Thursday, September 2.

Deputy premier John Barilaro said sewage testing has been successfully used to uncover positive cases across the state.

“It is a reliable protection surveillance measure that we use,” he said.

“In saying that, the Byron Bay fragments that we found are low level, but the community should remain alert.”

That Byron Bay sewage facility services about 9000 people.

Northern Rivers mayors hope the local lockdown can be lifted, potentially improving prospects of better cross-border rules. Picture Glenn Hampson

“We treat positive wastewater detections seriously as they could indicate there are positive cases in the community who have not been tested,” Ms Weir said.

“Detections can also be due to shedding of the virus by someone who may have previously had the illness and may no longer be infectious, or from someone who has since left the area.”

She reiterated people should not be complacent.

A total of 22 sewage sites are being tested between Grafton and Tweed Heads as part of the statewide Covid-19 sewage surveillance program.