7-day lockdown for Byron, Ballina, Lismore and Richmond Valley

Published on 09 August 2021

NSW Health has announced a seven-day lockdown for the Byron, Ballina, Lismore and Richmond Valley council areas from 6pm tonight (9 August 2021) to 12:01am Tuesday 17 August.

The stay-at-home orders in place in parts of the Northern Rivers are the same as those in Greater Sydney and people must stay at home unless they have a reasonable excuse to leave.

Detailed information about the stay-at-home orders is available on the NSW Health website.

Byron Shire Council’s office in Mullumbimby will not be open to the public until Tuesday 17 August.

Staff will however still be working from 8:30am to 4:30pm and will be available to help people via phone on 02 6626 7000 or email [email protected].

Public libraries in Byron Bay, Mullumbimby and Brunswick Heads will also be closed until 17 August.

Additional testing of sewage at Council’s four sewerage treatment plants will begin tomorrow.

Byron Shire Mayor Michael Lyon tonight urged people to comply with the lockdown.

“We know from the experience of Sydney and Victoria that everyone has a role to play in making sure that COVID-19 does not get a hold in the community,” Mayor Lyon said.

“No doubt there will be other Council services that will be impacted by this lockdown and more information will be available tomorrow.

NSW Health is urging people to get tested and a drive through testing centre is now open at the Cavanbah Centre on Ewingsdale Road.

Other testing clinics are listed on the NSW Government website.

The lockdown comes after a man in his 50s who was staying in the Byron Shire tested positive for COVID-19 on the weekend.

He is in the Lismore Base Hospital and NSW Health said initial investigations indicate he was infectious in the community.

Authorities are working to find out where the man travelled in the Northern Rivers region.

For media interviews contact Byron Shire Mayor, Michael Lyon, on 0435 646 365 or Annie Lewis, Media and Communications Coordinator, on 0419 609 189.