11 C
Byron Shire
June 24, 2026

NSW SES operational update

Latest News

NSW budget and the Northern Rivers

The Minns government says it's handed down a budget which locks in major funding for North Coast health infrastructure, alongside targeted cost-of-living relief designed for regional households and disaster recovery, as locals continue to face higher costs.

Other News

Flood gauges installed in Ballina and Wardell 

Residents in Ballina and Wardell will have more more localised flood warnings, giving them time to prepare before floodwaters arrives, thanks to new flood forecast services along the Richmond River.

Tweed Shire Council presents flood resilience series – part one

Over the coming weeks, Tweed Shire Council will present a flood resilience series, which looks at how 'Tweed's story is different from the standard flood recovery narrative and what happened next'.

Pauline at the Press Club, and on Planet Gina

Last week Australia had a glimpse of what life might be like under Prime Minister Pauline Hanson, via two speeches, one in Canberra and one in Townsville.

Community housing industry call for major expansion in upcoming NSW budget

The community housing industry are calling on the NSW government to use next week's State Budget to unlock a major expansion of community housing.

A heartfelt night of fundraising

We can’t solve the lack of social housing investment, or magically make emergency accommodation appear, but we can help alleviate suffering and bring warmth and comfort to people coping in truly awful situations.

Citizen science last line of defence for threatened species

Native forest logging is again in the spotlight in NSW, following Monday night’s Four Corners investigation into Forestry Corporation NSW’s failure to protect nationally endangered species.

NSW SES. Supplied

The NSW State Emergency Service (NSW SES) has received more than 13,500 calls and responded to more than 7,300 incidents following the impacts of Ex Tropical Cyclone Alfred across northern NSW.

In the last 24 hours, the NSW SES responded to 249 incidents, including three flood rescues, which involved cars driving through floodwaters and assisting people for medical treatment.

All emergency warnings have been downgraded, with 94 Watch and Act or Advice level warnings in place from Taree all the way to the Queensland border.

As weather conditions ease, NSW SES crews are undertaking damage assessments. More than 50 multi-agency rapid damage assessment teams are out on field across the Northern Rivers, already completing more than 1,500 damage assessments.

Isolated properties

The number of isolated properties is dynamically changing as flood water recedes. Over the last 24 hours, Isolations have occurred at Darkwood Road Thora (west of Leans Bridge), Iluka, Yamba, Tucabia, Palmers Rd, Cedar Creek, Byrrill Creek, Uki, Mulquimneys Rd Fiddler’s Creek, Bungawalbin, Rappville, Parts of Kangaroo and Middle Creek, Lawrence, Wooli, Minnie Watter and Diggers Camp.

NSW SES will have teams in the field to support with clearing roads and undertaking damage assessments.

The NSW SES has received more than 60 requests for resupply, supporting communities from the west of Port Macquarie, through the Upper Clarence and into the Northern Rivers.

Those who need urgent medical, food or water supplies can contact the NSW SES on 132 500 and we can assist with deliveries.

For the most up to date information, download the hazards near me app or visit the NSW SES website.



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.

If you are a local business owner help us and in turn we help you. All The Echo asks for is advertising, not a free ride. It is every advert in The Echo and on www.echo.net.au, which creates the space for all the stories and coverage of community events, happenings and concerns.

If you are a reader you can become a sponsor of The Echo. Your support keeps the us independent.

Even a small one-off or regular donation from you will help keep the echo’s independent voice alive and strong.

Support Us

Become one of the supporters who helps keep independent, local journalism alive in the Byron Shire by contributing anything from as little as the cost of a coffee each month.

You're Wonderful, Thank you for supporting independent journalism in the Byron Shire

You’re supporting The Echo, thank you

Your contribution is keeping independent, local journalism alive in the Northern Rivers.

Because of supporters like you, we can keep every story free for everyone — no paywall, no exceptions. Your money goes directly to funding our newsroom of 40-odd local workers covering the stories that matter to this community.

Tell us what you think, give us your opinion

The Echo loves your letters and comments and is proud to provide a community forum on the issues that matter most to our readers and the people of the NSW north coast. So don’t be a passive reader, email us your epistles at editor@echo.net.au.

The letters deadline for The Echo is noon Friday. Letters longer than 200 words may be cut. The publication of letters is at the discretion of the letters editor. Please remember to include your full name, address and telephone number.

Online comments are no longer available.

Appeal to locate missing woman

Police are appealing for public assistance to locate a woman missing from the Kempsey area.

Citizen science last line of defence for threatened species

Native forest logging is again in the spotlight in NSW, following Monday night’s Four Corners investigation into Forestry Corporation NSW’s failure to protect nationally endangered species.

Site confirmed for future high school at Pottsville

The NSW government says it has secured a site for a future high school in Pottsville, delivering on its commitment to future-proof public education for the growing Tweed community in the Northern Rivers.

Eleven winners at Byron Bay Herb Nursery

The Byron Bay Herb Nursery continues to create constructive pathways to achievement with twelve students from Byron Bay Herb Nursery’s disability support program recently graduating with a Certificate II in Horticulture.