Police are searching bushland and makeshift campsites around Byron Bay this week as they intensify the investigation surrounding the disappearance of a woman who was last seen on the New South Wales far north coast more than six months ago.
Thea Liddle was last seen in Mooball, in the Tweed Shire, on October 31 last year.
The 42-year-old was reported missing in January when her family contacted Queensland Police.
Detectives established Strike Force Holby to investigate the circumstances surrounding her disappearance.
No bank account activity
They hold grave concerns for her safety as there has been no activity from her bank accounts or mobile phone since early November 2019.
Ms Liddle was staying on a property on the Tweed Valley Way, with a man who was then aged 46.
Police searched the rural property in May, but have now switched their attention to bushland in and around Byron Bay, where Ms Liddle was known to have lived in the months leading up to her disappearance.
Unusual to be away for this long
Tweed-Byron Police District Commander, Superintendent Dave Roptell, said detectives were searching regular locations where many people were known to set up makeshift campsites.
"Thea lived a very transient lifestyle shifting from place to place, changing campsites often and would opt for places in remote bushland away from the public," he said.
"It wasn't uncommon for Thea to travel throughout the far north coast, however, is it unusual for her to go this length of time without speaking to family members.
"I hope Thea is still alive, of course I do.
"But all I can say at this point is that we're treating it as a serious missing person [case].
"We are extremely keen to speak to anyone who may have seen or spoken to Thea in late October or early November 2019.
"Any piece of information may assist investigators."
Ms Liddle was also known to frequent the Nimbin area, which police searched earlier this year.
