One issue from all this flooding that is not getting much attention is the presumably high levels of toxicity flowing in the creeks and rivers. In Mullumbimby alone, the sewage treatment plant (STP) needs to be able to overflow in high rain events – otherwise the sewage would start gurgling back up into homes.
It’s not hard to imagine the vast volumes of building materials, including asbestos, all the electricals, the perished food, just all of it contaminating the rivers. There are many unseen chemicals.
Hopefully, this experience will spark a new collective awareness around how important our estuaries are. Before the floods, they weren’t in great shape. There was oyster farming in Brunswick Heads until the water became too polluted. Growing up here in the ’90s, I recall the rivers being much cleaner.
A simple measure for flood mitigation, yet hard to implement, is the re-wilding of foreshores so that floods don’t erode the banks so easily.
There are solutions to restore rivers from degradation, but it will take money.
Yet these events offer unique opportunities for all the recently relocated wealthy residents – there are positive things to be done around riverine and riparian restoration. Who knows, maybe these events can spur on radical change for good? So far it’s been encouraging that the community has supported itself with open arms, warmth, and generosity. May that continue!
Hans Lovejoy, editor
For four decades The Echo has printed the stories some people loved, some people hated, and some pretended not to read. If you want us to keep telling the truth, the real truth, not the sugar-coated version. We’ll need your support to keep the presses rolling. 
