An environmental impact statement is needed for any changes to the Byron Bay Sewage Treatment Plant and its impacts upon the Belongil Estuary say hydrologist and effected landholders.

Those interested in the Belongil Creek catchment are invited to a community drop-in session on November 12 at the Byron Community Centre to share information they may have and learn about the development of the Belongil Creek Estuary Opening Strategy.

Overnight the mouth of Tallow Creek at Suffolk Park opened and water is now flowing into the ocean. Yesterday afternoon Byron Shire Council used a small excavator to scrape the sandbar to a height just above the water level.

For several months Echonetdaily has been fielding calls from Suffolk Park residents whose properties adjoin Tallow Creek, complaining the high water levels, flooding and lack of beach access.

Byron Shire Council says its permit to open Tallow Creek mouth cannot be activated, despite residents warning the quality of the water is ‘black and sulphurous’ with ‘algae covering large areas’.

Dredging of the mouth of Belongil Creek undertaken this week by Byron Shire Council was carried out ‘in strict accordance with licence conditions’ imposed by the NSW Government, council’s director of infrastructure services, Phil Holloway, has told Echonetdaily.

Day after day, I watch the sun rise. Light glitters on the clear crystal surf as well as the smoky quartz Tallow lagoon. These different water jewels crown two parks, Arakwal and Cape Byron.