The Northern Rivers Times Edition 39

Page 1

Edition 39

April 1, 2021

By Tania Spiers Phillips BYRON Bay was on tenterhooks on Monday with a cloud hanging over the region’s busiest tourist weekend of the year including its premier music event Bluesfest and large numbers of residents were lining up for testing. Three testing facilities were opened on Monday afternoon and the Northern NSW Local Health District were calling for people to get tested after two positive COVID cases travelled from Brisbane to Byron Bay last weekend. Details about where the people visited and what they did when they were in Byron were still being confirmed but information received so far is that they visited: Beach Hotel – Friday 25 March from 7:15pm – 8:30pm and The Farm – Sunday 28 March from

NorthernRiversTimes

8am – 9:30am. NSW Health advised that a list of venues of concern, and the related health advice, would be available on the NSW Government website and people from the Byron Bay area or those who visited at the weekend are asked to check it regularly for updates: https://nsw. gov.au/covid-19/latest-news-andupdates. Bluesfest Festival director Peter Noble said on Monday he had been in contact with NSW Health this morning and spoken with NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard. “We are expecting further updates from NSW Health and will remain in close contact in the coming days,” he said. “Based on advice from NSW Health, we are not allowing ticket holders that are affected by the three-day Queensland lockdown to

attend the festival on the first day, Thursday April 1. We will keep ticket buyers from the affected area updated and advise them to check with the Queensland government to check regularly for updates on the current 3-day lockdown. The lockdowns cover the council areas of Brisbane, Ipswich, Moreton Bay, Logan, and Redlands. Byron Shire Mayor Simon Richardson said it was the worst timing possible. “It’s the timing,” he said. “Let’s face it if it had happened two weeks ago as it bucketed down every day arguably at least the visitor numbers weren’t there so the impacts weren’t as great but of course now the sun comes out. “We get over that environmental disaster and all of a sudden now we have Covid rearing it’s head. It’s

like some of the plagues befalling us our trying to out compete each other. It’s really frustrating but I guess we’ve just got to keep doing the right thing, being tested where we can be on top of it.” Mayor Richardson said his heart went out to Peter Noble and his whole staff. “It’s always a risk to be one of the first, to know what you are doing and putting in place is right,” he said. “We also know that any event this year is still going to be one that’s going to have astrix next to it from an organizational point of view as long as COVID plays along. No doubt they’re a bit nervous and waiting like we are albeit with a fair bit more on the line.” “This whole holiday period is a crucial one for us, obviously

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Bluesfest is not only a premier music event in Australia its part of our Easter holidays. Whether it be locals who were looking to get away or visitors looking to come – no doubt the shops were all waiting and hoping for a bumper holiday.” NSW Health opened additional COVID-19 testing clinics In Byron Bay and was increasing the hours of existing clinics across northern NSW on Monday. In addition to the existing clinic at Byron Hospital, a new clinic has been set up at the Cavanbah Centre on Ewingsdale Road and at the Byron Bay Surf Club. • Cavanbah Centre, 249 Ewingsdale Rd, Byron Bay. 8am to 8pm; • Byron Bay Surf Club. 8am to 6pm ; • Byron Central Hospital Ewingsdale. 9am-6:30pm.

REMEMBER: TURN YOUR CLOCK BACK ONE HOUR THIS SUNDAY AT 2AM WO RK ING TO SO LV E

HO US ING IS A HU MA N RIG HT

OU R HO US ING CR ISI S

Authorised by Tamara Smith Member for Ballina. Produced using parliamentary entitlements.

GET IN TOUCH 02 6686 7522 tamarasmith.org.au ballina@parliament.nsw.gov.au Ballina Electorate Office Shop 1, 7 Moon Street Ballina NSW 2478


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