26.5 C
Byron Shire
March 28, 2024

Operation Flood Assist 2022 is on its way

Latest News

Man charged over domestic violence and pursuit offences – Tweed Heads

A man has been charged following a pursuit near Tweed Heads on Monday.

Other News

Coveted Wollumbin Art Award open for young and old

Are you an artist in the Northern Rivers? Now is the time to get your art ready and submitted to the Tweed Regional Gallery & Margaret Olley Art Centre’s coveted biennial Wollumbin Art Award.

Mullum and Byron locals lock on at Ewingar State Forest

Byron Bay and Mullumbimby locals Emma Briggs and Bassi Brown locked onto machinery at Ewingar State Forest, in the Upper Clarence area, yesterday as they called for an end to native forest logging. 

The Picture House is turning 8

It feels like we were only just ringing in the new year days ago and here we are approaching Easter weekend at The Brunswick Picture House. It’s already been a whirlwind start to 2024 with their biggest and busiest program so far, bringing an eclectic mix of some of the hottest stand-up comedy, music gigs, film screenings and cabaret – and that was just last week!

Richmond Valley Rail Trail grand opening

The latest leg of the Northern Rivers Rail Trail opened in style on Saturday, with hundreds of two-wheeled travel enthusiasts spinning along the newly opened 13.4 kilometre section from Casino to Bentley.

Urgent appeal

At last Thursday’s Byron Council meeting a long and dedicated campaign to save rail tracks and restore trains in...

‘Smooth stroking’ Rainbow Dragons earn trophies

Rainbow Dragons (Lennox Head Ballina) won three trophies and had a fantastic weekend of fun, fitness and friendship at Grafton Dragon Boat Club’s regatta earlier in March.

Army Warrant Officer Class Two Benjamin Dwyer from the School of Army Aviation prepares to conduct a rescue by winch of a community member from an MRH-90 Taipan, over Lismore on Monday. Photo Department of Defence.

Reports are just in from Grafton about a convoy of Australia Army vehicles passing through the town.

A Grafton resident said they saw the convoy stopping at a South Grafton service centre for fuel.

The Army in Grafton today. Photo supplied.

The Department of Defence says support to Queensland and NSW governments is being delivered under Operation Flood Assist 2022 and coordinated under Joint Task Force 629.

Deployment of forces is in response to NSW Government and Queensland Government requirements coordinated and prioritised through State Emergency Operations Centres.

In New South Wales there are around 70 personnel currently on task in Lismore with approximately 170 personnel pre-positioned in Coffs Harbour and Grafton, to commence tasking in the Lismore region today.

Tasking includes evacuation support, door knocking, sandbagging and recovery efforts to support local authorities.

Four MRH-90 Taipan helicopters are staging out of Grafton to support disaster relief efforts in the region. Tasking includes food and stores distribution, resupply and patient transfers.

Two Navy MH-60R Seahawk helicopters and one commercially contracted AW-139 helicopter are located at HMAS Albatross in Nowra for search and rescue operations in day and night conditions in the Greater Sydney and South Coast region.

One commercially contracted AW-139 helicopter at RAAF Base Williamtown conducting search and rescue operations in NSW.

Ground support to Lismore, Tweed Heads, Murwillumbah, Coffs Harbour Grafton and Port Macquarie are involved in a range of tasks including evacuation support, door knocking, sandbagging and posturing for post-flood action.

There is no word yet about support for Mullumbimby.

 


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1 COMMENT

  1. Well it’s about bloody time! Why weren’t they deployed sooner! Once again, as in the bushfires, last minute call by this inept government!
    I am sure the photos in this edition of the Echo are soul destroying to seen by friends and family of those effected.

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