Australia Weather News

A northern NSW mayor is "disappointed" in the lack of supplies at evacuation centres across the Byron Shire, as thousands of people are told to evacuate before Cyclone Alfred impacts the region.

There are currently 19 evacuation centres open in northern NSW to support residents, with three of those located in the Byron Shire.

Byron Shire Mayor Sarah Ndiaye raised concerns about the lack of resources available at those centres.

"Only one has had their food trucks arrive and be properly provided for," Cr Ndiaye said.

She said stretcher beds that had been promised for a centre in Mullumbimby also hadn't arrived by Friday morning.

"I'm only expecting there to be a life raft, not a hotel," she said.

"We just need there to be food, shelter, power and hopefully some bedding or towels so that people can shower and look after themselves while they need to bunker down.

"It's just not good enough."

Tropical Cyclone Alfred's centre is expected to cross the mainland coast later on Saturday, with impacts already being felt across south-east Queensland and northern NSW.

About 19,000 people across the Northern Rivers region are affected by evacuation orders issued by the NSW State Emergency Service (NSW SES).

Cr Ndiaye said communication and the evacuation centres had improved since the region experienced flooding in 2022.

"They [residents] didn't manage to get here this last time because we had no warning and there has been improvements, but not to the extent that one would expect," she said.

"We've had a lot of people coming and talking about how we're going to do it better next time, but unfortunately the proof just isn't in the pudding."

Residents seeking safety

Nearby, more than 160 people stayed at a centre in Lismore on the Southern Cross University site last night and another 20 arrived this morning.

The Australian Red Cross' Lismore emergency response deputy team leader Jenny Dowell said staff and volunteers were expecting as many as 500 people could use the facility.

"Red Cross' role is psychological first aid, looking after people's wellbeing, making a cup of tea, sitting down, just having a chat," she said.

Ms Dowell said it was still early days with the height of the emergency — and the recovery process — still to come.

"People can't predict how long this will be and whether they'll be able to go home or whether they will be found alternative accommodation," she said.

Local Jenny Gibson came to the centre during the night at the urging of a family member.

"It was cold overnight. They gave me another blanket and a sleeping bag. They've been pretty good," she said.

Cr Ndiaye said the centres had asked people to bring additional supplies, but said it's not always easy. 

"But people who need to evacuate if their roof blows off or something like that, they won't have things with them."

"It adds to the distress of an already distressing situation.

"There's still time for them to fix it."