King tides and extreme weather have reportedly eroded up to five metres from the Byron Bay shoreline, threatening businesses and damaging waterfront walkways.
Heavy rain lashed the coastline between northern NSW and south-eastern Queensland over Sunday, causing local waterways to surge and forcing locals to install sandbags around a beachfront restaurant.
Yesterday’s fears of severe coastal erosion were confirmed on Monday morning, with The Today Show‘s Hannah Sinclair reporting “We’ve seen the beach literally fall away… the beach is literally chipping away.”
“It has gone back at least three to five metres in twelve hours, that is how bad it is,” she added.
“We’re talking about Byron Bay, you know, one of Australia’s most iconic beaches, and this is the scene at the moment.”
Footage from the waterfront showed a damaged walkway collapsing below a man as he inspected the erosion. The Today Show reports he appeared to be unharmed.
Flash flooding, damaging winds and dangerous surf are right now eating away at the Byron Bay coastline. Beachfront restaurant owner Ben Kirkwood joined us to speak about the devastating erosion. #9Today pic.twitter.com/0UgipRFSm1
— The Today Show (@TheTodayShow) December 13, 2020
Byron Bay’s famous beach has all but disappeared, with king tides causing severe coastal erosion.
Sandbags are being used to try and protect businesses on the coast.
Read more: https://t.co/TrwUcQK7iD
See the full story, 6.00pm on #9News pic.twitter.com/wEly9fTYCS
— 9News Sydney (@9NewsSyd) December 13, 2020
The Bureau of Meteorology’s (BoM) severe weather warning remains in place for the coastal region spanning Tweed Heads to just above Taree, with residents advised to prepare for brutal winds and rain, along with “abnormally high tides and damaging surf.”
The BoM today issued a moderate flood watch alert, with residents of Murwillumbah, Tumbulgum, and Chinderah advised to watch out for rising waters over the next couple of days.
Look at that energy! The system that’s causing heavy rain & localised flooding in northern NSW is seen here gathering pace as it tracks south from Qld. People in affected areas are urged to keep up to date with latest warnings, & put safety first: https://t.co/0ikQE2NKzl@NSWSES pic.twitter.com/3yTyhAAueQ
— Bureau of Meteorology, New South Wales (@BOM_NSW) December 13, 2020
Speaking to the Sydney Morning Herald on Sunday, the Bureau of Meteorology’s Jonathan How said the ongoing storm is “the most significant rainfall event since February”.
The State Emergency Service has fielded more than 700 calls in relation to the weather system.
Stay safe out there, folks.
