I DOUBT THEREFORE I MAYBE The Byron Shire Echo • Volume 39 #40 • March 12, 2025 • www.echo.net.au
Could have been much worse?
South Wall at Bruns was heaving with the swell and plenty of onlookers as Tropical Cyclone Alfred approached. Photo Ziggi Browning
▶ See more photos of the local Tropical Cyclone Alfred experience in The Echo online: www.echo.net.au/tropical-cyclone-alfred-in-pictures
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ith the threat of further flooding now dissipated, an enormous cleanup job lies ahead in the aftermath of Topical Cyclone Alfred (TCA). Beaches in Northern NSW and South East Qld have been severely eroded, and the extensive damage to roads and other infrastructure will again test local government finances. Power outages affected more than 300,000 homes and businesses across both states. Essential Energy said on Tuesday morning that there were ‘just over 7,600 homes and businesses without power, mainly
Can Bruns hold the weight of new gym’s expansion? ▶ p4
in the Northern Rivers region’. Houses and cars have also been damaged, primarily by falling trees and floodwaters.
Byron’s 120km/h gust Byron Bay recorded the highest wind gust at 120km/h. On Wednesday last week, the warning of a category 2 cyclone hitting the region was made well in advance, including fears that it would coincide with abnormally high tides on Friday. Three evacuation centres were established in the Byron Shire by the NSW Department of
Communities and Justice (DCJ): Mullumbimby Ex-Services Club; Ocean Shores Country Club and the Cavanbah Centre (Ewingsdale Road, Byron Bay). On Wednesday, SES advised Belongil residents to prepare for evacuation. On Thursday, Billinudgel and The Pocket residents were advised to evacuate before 9pm. On Friday, as the storm’s impact grew close, power lines went down, impacting 43,000 north coast homes and businesses. SES directed Mullumbimby, South Golden Beach and Ocean Shores residents to evacuate before 8am Saturday. The
A short history of successive lacklustre attempts at coastal protection ▶ p6
M1 was closed from Ewingsdale to Chinderah, and schools also closed. Council staff said power outages affected the majority of their sewer pump stations and some sewage treatment plants were running on generators. Mullumbimby residents were asked to be mindful of their water use, as the town’s water treatment plant was unable to process water ‘because of high turbidity in the water in Lavertys Gap weir’. On Saturday, three Norfolk pines in Byron Bay were removed under Council staff instruction, owing to ▶ Continued on page 3
The public good in times of private bad ▶ p10
DV charges against Cr Lyon withdrawn Photo & story David Lowe Criminal charges against former Byron Shire mayor and current councillor, Michael Lyon, were withdrawn in Tweed Heads Court House on Tuesday. Appearing via video link before Magistrate Lisa Stapleton, Shaun Croner of the DPP said that the charges of contravention of an Apprehended Violence Order (AVO), and stalk/intimidation (both dating from October 21, 2024) were being withdrawn. Police prosecutors in court appeared unprepared for this decision. ‘It was on the order of Magistrate Stapleton that all four charges were dismissed,’ Mr Lyon’s lawyer John Weller told The Echo. ‘An Interim AVO is still in place with condition 1 only.’ As for the AVO matter itself, Magistrate Stapleton deferred that matter until March 17. She noted that the AVO remains in legal effect at this stage. Michael Lyon chose to say nothing to the media. The Echo has sought comment from the DPP about why all charges were dropped.
Cr Michael Lyon, pictured right, outside Tweed Heads Court House with his lawyer, John Weller.
Waiting for the A tasty scoop great leap forward of local biz ▶ p16 ▶ p17
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