This week's Byron Farmers Market has been cancelled because NSW Health is using the Cavanbah Centre site as a drive-through COVID testing facility.
The facility was set up yesterday following news that two people from Queensland who visited Byron Bay last weekend have tested positive to the virus.
Byron Shire Council's Director of Infrastructure Services, Phil Holloway, said it was not appropriate for the market to co-locate with the testing centre given the evolving situation and concerns for public health.
Byron Shire Council has been in consultation with the Byron Farmers Market about the situation, however given the short notice it is unfortunately not possible to find a venue to hold the market this Thursday.
"We also cannot predict what the situation regarding COVID-19 in our community will be then either," said Mr Holloway.
Market manager Tom Carey said: "The Thursday before Easter is one of our busiest days of the year and on behalf of our stall holders we are sorry to let our regulars down, but this is an unavoidable situation."
"We are playing things by ear at the moment and while this is a blow to everyone involved in the farmers' market, stallholders and our customers, our greatest concern is the community's safety."
Council staff and the Byron Farmers Market managers are working together to identify alternative sites should the Cavanbah Centre still be required for COVID testing next Thursday.
Unfortunately a temporary return to Butler Street Reserve is not an option due to ongoing site contamination investigations underway.
