The Tweed's flood clean-up is progressing faster than expected and we are coming to the end of the operation within the next 2 weeks.
Council would like to thank the community for working so cooperatively with our clean-up crews, by listening to and heeding our caution messages. This has allowed the clean-up to progress much quicker than initially projected with clean-up crews able to make their way around flood-affected zones relatively smoothly.
The clean-up is still progressing and making its way around – if we haven't been to you yet, you will not be missed. If you need a collection during our second and final pass, please call us on 02 6670 2400 to register this by close of business on Wednesday 30 March to ensure it is added to our pick-up list.
Council is urging the community not to place any new flood waste on the kerb after this time.
Mayor of Tweed Chris Cherry said she hoped the cleaner streets would bring some sense of normality to those affected by the flood.
"I'd like to thank everyone for their patience during this huge clean-up effort. We know how distressing it's been over the last few weeks so hopefully seeing streets and businesses clean again will provide the community with some hope for moving forward," Cr Cherry said.
"It will still be a long recovery, and Council is here to support our community as we move into the next stage of the recovery process.
"A huge shout-out to all the clean-up crews – including Council workers, volunteers, contractors and Australian Defence Force personnel who have worked so hard to get through this mammoth task so efficiently, we are very grateful."
More than 11,000 tonnes of flood waste – or between 800 and 1,100 tonnes per day – has been accepted at Stotts Creek Recovery Centre (the Tip) since the deluge. This is similar to the amount collected after the 2017 flood but has been spread across much more of the Shire.
Once clean-up crews complete their final pass in the coming weeks, Council is urging the community not to place any new flood waste on the kerb as it won't be collected.
Flood waste will continue to be accepted for free at the Tip until close of business on Sunday 27 March.
The Tip will return to normal opening hours for the public from Saturday 26 March.
Only materials that were flood-affected will be accepted for free. For example, gyprock that has been flood-affected is accepted. However, other building materials such as cement fibre sheeting, bricks, and builder's rubble will not be accepted as flood waste.
Asbestos can only be accepted from Tweed Shire addresses and it must be treated appropriately. Visit tweed.nsw.gov.au/asbestos for more info on transport and disposal.
Over the next 2 weeks, roving clean-up crews will focus efforts on isolated areas that may have been missed, flood waste in public reserves, and the removal of dried piles of mud and contaminated green waste.
Whitegoods and tyres will be collected separately to be recycled while hazardous waste will be removed by licenced contractors.
Council is continuing to work with NSW Police and the ADF to remove abandoned cars posing a risk to road safety. These will be taken to a secure Council facility to be held for collection. There will be no charges involved, however vehicle owners will need to contact Council to arrange access for retrieval.
