Flood victims told to leave emergency housing in Byron Bay to make way for Easter holiday-makers

At least 60 victims left homeless after the northern NSW floods have been ordered by the government to leave emergency accommodation and make way for Easter tourists. 

The Department of Communities and Justice has written a letter advising people to "check out" by April 4.

The departments's deputy secretary Paul Vevers said the only accommodation the government could find to move people to was in Grafton, Brisbane and the Gold Coast.

    "I just cannot apologise enough for the disruption that this will cause people and we will do everything that we can to minimise it," he said.

Mr Vevers said 60 people would be shifted in the coming week, but could not give a total number of people who would be relocated.

The department was housing more than 1,600 people in emergency accommodation as of March 31, but said those staying in caravan parks and motorhomes would not be affected.

    "When Easter is over, we will transport people back again, and we will put people back in emergency accommodation, and they will be able to remain there for as long as they need," he said.

He said there was a team of employees calling hotels daily to snap up any cancellations that arose.

But Mr Vevers said he could not begrudge people who had booked to stay in the Byron Bay region for Easter.

    "All of the bookings were made months ago, in some cases people booked two years ago," he said.

"The Bluesfest was cancelled twice, and people have carried their bookings through.

"I would say tourism is vital in the Northern Rivers, it's vital for jobs, it's vital for businesses."

Mr Vevers said moving to accommodation in Queensland was not the "only option" — people could find their own lodgings, and get a "substantial" payment from Service NSW to help the transition.

    "Some people are using the funds to rent caravans and campervans," he said.