Dramatic rescues during Byron’s flash floods

COMMUNITY groups across the Byron Shire sprang into action to help people impacted by flash flooding last Friday, with cars washed down streets and residents rescued from their homes after becoming trapped in floodwaters.

The NSW SES responded to incidents in Byron Bay, Bangalow, Mullumbimby and Lismore.

“In Deacon Street, Bangalow we had a large emergency service response,” NSW North Eastern program support officer Zone Jaime Randell said. “About 20 homes were inundated by floodwaters after Byron Creek broke its banks at Bangalow. Two people were evacuated from their homes and a person was rescued from a vehicle in floodwaters.”

Crews also rescued two people surrounded by knee-deep water in a house in Ashton Street, while an elderly woman was trapped by fast-moving floodwater on Graham Road, Marom Creek.

“Water from a nearby creek had risen across the road, leaving the woman isolated by water on both sides,” Randell said.

“A crew arrived on scene and confirmed the woman was safe. The incident was resolved quickly with all persons accounted for and NSW SES Units stood down.”

Longtime locals marvelled at how quickly the waters rose, leaving many unable to move their cars in time to avoid the deluge.

In the 24 hours from 9am, 122.5 mm of rainfall was recorded at Byron Bay.

Byron Shire Council and contractors brought in pumps and sandbags around the worksite for the Byron Bay drainage project after a rapid rise in water in the town centre.

“Byron Bay is particularly susceptible to flash flooding during heavy rain because the old drainage system cannot cope with the volume of water,” council’s director of infrastructure services Phil Holloway said.

“It’s this type of flash flooding that the Byron Bay Drainage Project is designed to reduce.”

Bangalow Showground, which backs onto Bangalow Primary School, and neighbouring George Street were also flooded.

“It was very intense rainfall and water levels rose very quickly,” Bangalow Resilience Network president Claire McKlisky said. “A lot of people just weren’t aware that it was flooding outside. There were teachers who were teaching and didn’t realise.”

McKlisky said the downstairs storage areas and workshops of some homes flooded.

“A house at Talofa also flooded so some of our members went there and started hosing off the flooring,” she said.

“People were turning up to various houses with food and it felt like a really nice community vibe.”

One woman, who had no car insurance and had been told her car was a write-off, was extremely grateful when Bangalow Resilience Network member Matthew Dundon – who runs a repair business called The Mad Scientist – was able to get it started after an hour of work.

“She was over the moon,” Dundon said. “The car was literally in the middle of the road where it had stopped running when they tried to drive it out of the water.”

Community members interested in preparing for future natural disasters are invited to attend the Bangalow Resilience Network’s next meeting, to be held at Bangalow Heritage House & Museum at 5.30pm on Tuesday 2 June.