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Byron Bay has been a favorite destination for tourists from around the world for years. For those who have been hoping to enjoy the sunshine on the famous coastline by easing travel restrictions, the area will likely look completely different from postcards.
After the storm that hit the city on Monday, not much remains of a famous main beach, reports among others news.com.au.
The beach has gone through several rounds of destruction in recent years due to climate change. Mayor Simon Richardson told Sky News that further destruction is expected in the coming days.
– We have had a number of erosion events like this before. Violent tides and storms are expected again tomorrow, he says.
Ask people to stay away
The world’s beaches are suffering due to climate change. The beaches of Australia and low island nations are particularly at risk and are particularly prone to erosion, according to forskning.no.
In October, the tide washed away several dunes in Byron Bay and vast resources were deployed to prevent further destruction.
The sandy beach has been submerged again in recent days and several hundred trees have been uprooted by tidal waves.
The mayor hopes that the storm will calm down in the next few days and that the beach will recover when the water recedes.
For now, he urges tourists and locals to stay away from the coast and take precautions when moving outdoors.
– The waves along the coast have been enormous, we are talking about waves of up to five meters. There are big swells, violent tides and high water levels that lash the entire coastline, Richardson tells the channel.
– Everything is gone
According to new.com.au, several residents fear that this week’s storm will be the final nail in the coffin of tourist paradise. Among them is Harry McGhie, who has lived in the area for 20 years.
– Everything is gone. You can’t even say that there is a beach here. It’s very sad, he tells the news website.
Deputy Mayor Sarah Ndiaye believes that it is urgent to draw attention to erosion problems.
“I don’t think anyone has seen erosion on this scale in our lifetime, and it has happened faster than anyone has been able to predict,” he said during a news conference.
Authorities have also issued flood warnings related to several rivers in the area.
