Floodwater and sewage is fouling the famous beaches of the NSW far north coast on the eve of a school holiday period that could be make or break for many local tourism operators.
The Ballina Shire Council has been monitoring water quality in the Richmond River and surrounding areas since last month's floods.
Filthy water is still spewing from the river into the ocean where it is carried north along the coast by the prevailing longshore drift.
Environment officer Tom Mcaully Rix said the contamination levels were high enough to pose a risk to people's health.
"We've found that there is a substantial risk for swimmers to contract ear infections, eye infections, wound infections and also contract illnesses such as gastro, so at the moment it's just not worth it," he said.
Mr Mcaully Rix said people should not swim in local waterways and beaches for at least a few weeks.
Raw sewage in river-ways
There are problems further upstream as well.
One of Lismore's two sewerage plants was badly damaged in the floods.
About four megalitres of untreated sewage is being released each day into the Wilsons River, which flows into the Richmond River.
Lismore City Council general manager John Walker said there was no easy fix.
"We don't believe we'll be able to fix East Lismore [sewage treatment plant] to the standard that's required," he said.
"State government has announced funding for this area's sewerage and water to build a new one … but building a new sewage treatment plant takes a long time."
Businesses hoping tourists come anyway
Regional manager for Business NSW Jane Laverty said tourism was the driver for about 25 per cent of the jobs in the Tweed and Byron Bay areas.
She said this Easter would be the sixth holiday period in which the region had faced a crisis or lockdown.
"When you take in flood, and drought, more floods, and a global pandemic, we've had businesses on their knees," Ms Laverty said.
"We need to give them a break, we need to get behind them."
"All the holiday periods are when they make their money to support them through the harder times, particularly as we come into winter, so Easter is so important," she said.
Ms Laverty said tourism would also play a key role in the region's recovery from the floods.
"Even the businesses in Lismore that have been displaced understand how important that supply chain is, and if the tourism businesses on the coast are not doing well through Easter then that will impact their recovery rate as well."
Bluesfest usually draws tens of thousands of music fans to the region over Easter.
It was cancelled at short notice due to COVID-19 for the past two years but plans are in place for the festival to kick off on Thursday.
Ms Laverty said the success of this year's event and holiday period was crucial.
"We know it's challenging at the moment but for many people they really rely on this tourism trade that comes through."
