Ballina businesses and residents in recovery mode after ex-Cyclone Alfred

BUSINESS owners and residents across Ballina Shire have spent the week in recovery mode as the clean-up from ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred continues.

Fallen powerlines and destructive winds caused widespread damage across the region.

Henry Rous Hotel licensee Katie Faber, Kel Campbell, and staff members saw some of the worst damage when a power pole came down outside the venue on Moon Street.

They avoided disaster, with patrons and staff leaving the pub shortly before the incident.

“It was hectic, I can’t even explain how loud the noise was,” Ms Faber said.

“To think only half an hour earlier there was 30 or 40 people walking that way, too.

Kel Campbell was back pouring beers this week after seeing a powerline pole fall down outside the Henry Rous Hotel, Ballina. Photo: MITCHELL CRAIG.

“There were two that nearly drove up into it straight after it happened and we had to direct them away.

“We lost power for 56 hours after that, it was our service powerline that was across the road.

“I can’t give the Essential Energy, fire team and police enough credit. They were all there within 10 minutes.”

The pub reopened at a limited capacity this week and is still waiting for parts to be replaced in its TAB and gaming area.

Some of the fuses still need to be replaced along with its audio system.

The pub was one of the main meeting hubs in town when it held up during the 2022 floods.

Trees across roads and driveways kept SES teams busy around the Ballina Shire. Photo: SUPPLIED.

“The wind was blowing the water in this time, and I got more drenched than what I did in 2022,” Ms Faber said.

“In 2022 we were the only place open because we didn’t get flooded and people were coming in to charge their phones and all sorts of things.

“This time has been a little bit different, a lot of them coming in are uneasy and anxious about what’s happened.”

Elsewhere, caravan parks and residents relying on camp sites were some of the hardest hit in 2022.

Hibiscus Gardens Caravan Park managers Brendan Edwards and Michelle Taylor said most of its residents were able to stay on site this time.

The couple were grateful but said there are concerns from some of its residents still living in motels three years later while relying on support from the government.

Conditions were still wild and windy at beaches across Ballina this week. Photo: MITCHELL CRAIG.

“There’s just no accommodation around,” Mr Edwards said.

“The warnings scared a lot of people, but we were lucky that the 70 we have on site all pulled through without any major damage.

“We haven’t lived on site since the 2022 floods, we were lucky we didn’t get king tides this time.

Ms Taylor said there were still frustrations from the 2022 floods.

“Every time it looks like flooding at Lismore we expect the worst,” she said “You feel sorry for the people living there when it keeps happening.”

The Australian Defence Force was still active and responding to call-outs after the weekend. Photo: MITCHELL CRAIG.

The Australian Defence Force were still on the ground on Monday responding to more requests for sandbagging and checking on homes that made call-outs over the weekend.

Some kids made the most of another day off school by sliding down the mud-soaked hill on bodyboards at Skennars Head.

Since then school has returned, while the NSW Reconstruction Authority and partner agencies have established a recovery assistance point at Ballina Surf Club. It is open 9am to 5pm and will operate until Sunday.