Rhea Mogul, CNN • Updated 15th December 2020
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(CNN) A beach in Byron Bay, a coastal town in Australia about 100 miles south of Brisbane, has been significantly eroded as extremely heavy rain batters much of the country s east coast, according to local officials.
Storms have ravaged a 1,000-km (621-mile) stretch on the eastern coast of Australia for several days, severely impacting the states of Queensland and northern New South Wales (NSW).
Strong winds and heavy rainfall have caused damage to infrastructure and buildings as well as flash flooding in both states. Shorelines have been eroded in some areas, most significantly in Byron Bay.
Date Time
Severe weather update for Tuesday 15 December
The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) warning for heavy rainfall, abnormally high tides and damaging surf continues today (Tuesday 15 Dec) across the Byron Shire.
The BOM flood watch continues for the Brunswick River and its tributaries due to predictions for continuing showers and thunderstorms and the risk of flash flooding over coming days.
Rainfall rates are expected to ease later today or early Wednesday as the trough over the NSW North Coast weakens.
“We seem to be out of the worst of the storm event but we are still on flood watch as the situation could change under the current conditions,” Council’s Director Infrastructure Services, Phil Holloway said.
 It has been disappointing and frustrating to see people on the dunes during the event, causing further erosion. People need to stay right away from the dunes during this severe weather event, Mr Holloway said. Further coastal erosion is expected, with high tides to continue for the rest of the week. Mr Holloway said staff had been on standby to perform another beach scraping at Belongil Creek. But the creek opened naturally during high tide this morning. The tide is next expected to peak at 9.45am Tuesday. A Bureau of Meteorology Flood Watch remains in place for the Northern Rivers, with minor flooding forecasted at Billinudgel and Mullumbimby this evening, as a result of renewed river rises and heavy rainfall.
 It has been disappointing and frustrating to see people on the dunes during the event, causing further erosion. People need to stay right away from the dunes during this severe weather event, Mr Holloway said. Further coastal erosion is expected, with high tides to continue for the rest of the week. Mr Holloway said staff had been on standby to perform another beach scraping at Belongil Creek. But the creek opened naturally during high tide this morning. The tide is next expected to peak at 9.45am Tuesday. A Bureau of Meteorology Flood Watch remains in place for the Northern Rivers, with minor flooding forecasted at Billinudgel and Mullumbimby this evening, as a result of renewed river rises and heavy rainfall.
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