Weather damage to Byron hits $5 million
BYRON Shire has sustained about $5 million in weather damage since Australia Day.
Restoration including tree removal, drainage works and damage to roads from the storm last Friday will cost $1.1 million, council's executive manager of community infrastructure, Phil Holloway, said.
Mr Holloway said council workers had received 150 calls for help between Friday afternoon and Sunday evening.
And he estimates the damage bill from the Australia Day flood damage will be between $3-$4 million.
Yesterday , Prime Minister Julia Gillard and NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell announced that Byron council would be among 11 local government areas to receive disaster funding for the storm.
Council crews are also still continuing with the green waste kerbside collection as a result of ex-cyclone Oswald. Additional contractors were put on last week to assist with the pickup, but the consistent wet weather is slowing the green waste collection.
Meanwhile, the whole community is to get into the act of cleaning up with more than a dozen sites across the shire registered to participate in the national Clean Up Australia Day on Sunday, March 3.
They include Byron United whose members will be giving the CBD a spruce up including removing graffiti, weeding gardens and painting bins.
"If you have a business in the CBD or are someone who just wants to see a cleaner CBD, please join us on Sunday morning" said president Paul Waters.
Three local schools are also taking part on March 1 including Mullumbimby High School, Bangalow Public School and Byron Bay High School.
For more information visit www.cleanupaustraliaday.org.au
