Party’s over: Emergency SES teams sent in to warn Byron as Alfred stalks coast

The SES has sent in emergency teams to Byron Bay to warn the town - especially tourists - of Cyclone Alfred’s predicted impact.

The SES has sent in emergency teams to Byron Bay to warn the town - especially tourists - of Cyclone Alfred’s predicted impact.

The State Emergency Service said they were pleased to see locals begin to take the event seriously. Now their focus is on ensuring tourists are safe.

“Yesterday we saw a town that still seemed to be in party mode. We saw a huge line of traffic coming into Byron,” said community field liaison officer Ian Leckie.

“Today we have a totally different attitude in town, talking to locals. They are being prepared, they are battening down hatches, our focus is now to make sure tourists and rough sleepers do the same.”

Around town, many locals and tourists are in high spirits, with some tourists admitting they were unprepared about what is to come.

Byron residents are prepare and filling sandbags at Butler Street Reserve, Byron Bay. Picture: Rohan Kelly

Sandbags in front of stores along Lennox Head’s Pacific Parade. Picture: NewsWire / Glenn Campbell

German backpacker Fritz Schmidt said he was wasn’t aware how serious the situation was.

“I knew about it from Instagram … I wasn’t aware it was this intense here.”

“I hope it will be there tomorrow the day after otherwise we’re not prepared,” he said.

People gather on the foreshore at Byron’s Main Beach to watch the surf and surfers, Byron Bay. Picture: Rohan Kelly

He admitted he does not have food, and has spent the morning walking around the few cafes open, getting what he can.

Locals Alex and Chelsea spent the morning by the beach, describing the energy as “high.”

“It’s exhilarating. We are sand bagged up the wazoo. If you lived through the floods you’re prepared,” said Alex.

Carlie Fairburn and daughters Sahni and Yemayah Chopen take in the scene at 7 Mile Beach at Lennox Head, just down the road from Byron, as the community braces ahead of TC Alfred. Picture: NewsWire / Glenn Campbell

Others who lived through the 2022 floods say they are worried about what lies ahead.

While some have been enjoying the wild waves at Byron Bay’s main beach, others have begun preparing for what is to come.

It comes as the NSW SES has begun to move teams into Byron Bay, out of fear the tourist town is unprepared.

The NSW State Emergency Service (SES) is urging people in parts of Northern NSW to prepare to evacuate as damaging winds, severe rainfall and coastal erosion impacts the coast.

NSW has also seen rainfall in excess of 200ml from the mid north coast to Northern Rivers over night with the region expected to see up to 400ml through Thursday and Friday.

Gale force winds of over 90km have also hit the region and look to continue NSW SES Acting Chief Superintendent Stuart Fisher said on Thursday morning Alfred’s slow march gives locals another day to prepare for the worst.

“As the Bureau of Meteorology has indicated this morning, the cyclone has slowed and will approach the land sometime Saturday morning,” he said.

“I cannot stress enough that this is a significant weather event. It is not like 2022, where we had a single event.

“We’ve had beach erosion which is occurring now, or have the very strong to dangerous and destructive winds over the next 24 to 48 hours, followed by those torrential rains.

“Should that stall over land we are predicting anywhere between 300-400mm rain. If it stalls, we'll see an increase in the rainfall of around 600-700mm rain which will cause again significant flooding on many of the river systems down the coast.

“We have currently issued over 300k sandbags and there are more to come.”

Businesses across the region are closed as the dreaded wait continues. Picture: NewsWire / Glenn Campbell

Significant rainfall is leading to flash flooding, with some roads out of the region will be impacted by flood waters this evening. Damaging winds will also become stronger as Tropical Cyclone Alfred moves onshore.

People in the Northern Rivers should prepare to evacuate with personal belongings, medications and documents ready, and a plan of where they are headed.

Across the region at noon on Thursday, 6000 homes were without power.

NSW SES Incident Controller, Superintendent Joanna Jones said more extensive power outages could occur, which may cause a loss in communications.

“We’re anticipating significant wind, rainfall, coastal erosion and flooding in the region. We want the community to act now before it’s too late,” Superintendent Jones said.

“Strong winds and intense rainfall are already causing some impacts to local roads, and storm damage and flooding could close some evacuation routes.”

At a sand bag site in Byron Bay, local Natalia Sanchez said she was feeling scared and wasn’t sure if the town was ready.

“We don’t have a good centre to go to in case of an emergency,” she said.

“The closest is far away,” said Ms Sanchez.

Another local, Adam said he was feeling apprehensive having lived through the 2022 floods.

“We are a bit scarred slightly from last time,” he said