Flood-hit Byron Bay: show must go on

A defiant Byron Bay is determined to open in time for the Easter holidays following two years of Covid disruptions and floods this week that left the main street underwater.

A defiant Byron Bay is determined to open in time for the Easter holidays following two years of Covid disruptions and floods this week that left the main street underwater.

Business owners have begun the clean-up after the town centre was inundated on Tuesday.

The storm, which dumped 300mm of rain, has left residents scrambling to prepare for the ­arrival of 40,000 people for the Blues Fest music festival.

The festival – a major driver of tourist income – has been derailed by Covid-19 for consecutive years. It was cancelled at the 11th hour in 2020 over an infection scare.

The low pressure system that wreaked havoc in northern NSW has continued its path south. In Sydney wind gusts of 87km/h were recorded on the Harbour Bridge and the Manly ferry was cancelled for several hours ­because of dangerous swells.

The Bureau of Meteorology has warned that extreme weather warnings will remain in place for the weekend for the Mid North Coast, Hunter region, Illawarra, south coast and Sydney.

Floodwaters in Lismore have continued to recede after peaking at 11.4m on Wednesday night, with the bureau downgrading a warning for the Wilsons River to ­moderate. Flood warnings remain in place for the Richmond, ­Clarence and Orara rivers.

Meteorologist Stephen Stefanac said the Northern Rivers ­region would be spared further wet weather until Wednesday and Thursday when an “unsettled weather pattern” would bring showers.

In Byron Bay, the prospect of further showers before Easter, ­potentially drenching already saturated catchments again, was met with horror.

Zane Grier, 47, and wife Samara, 46 – owners of fashion outlet DriftLab – lost most of their stock, worth about $70,000, when their Jonson Street shop was flooded.

“We haven’t had a school holiday season without interruption for years,” Mr Grier said. The couple fear the town will see a third Easter holiday trading period lost if the wet weather persists. “I just hope everyone comes out to support and still come here for the Easter holidays,” Mr Grier said.

The flooded Blues Fest site. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen

The couple spent Friday airing their shop and clearing ruined stock. “Blues Fest brings so much money to the town,” Ms Grier said. “With Covid it has been one thing after another.”

Byron Bay accommodation providers have reported last-minute cancellations from holidaymakers fearful of further floods.

Elements of Byron general manager Michael Skinner said that he had seen Easter bookings cancelled. “The fact that Ballina airport is closed sends a loud message to everyone,” he said. “Consumers are probably hearing a lot of horror stories.

“It’s sending the message that the Northern Rivers is not the right place to be at the moment.”

Australian Chamber – Tourism chairman John Hart said the ­region had been plagued by ­cancellations since the start of the flood disaster.

“A lot of people have ­cancelled,” he said. “While a lot of operators have had bookings cancelled for the right reason … what’s scary is that some have had no impact (from the floods). They’re just in a surrounding area.”

Byron Bay Mayor Michael Lyon said that it was vital that Blues Fest goes ahead, despite flooding on the site.

“Blues Fest will go ahead, it’s ­essential that we support our artists and creative community who have suffered so much during Covid, and it’s also important for all business and employees in our shire,” he said.