After 17 years, an arrest has been made relating to the death of Simone Strobel, but it brings mixed emotions for her family in Germany.

A reporter from the German newspaper Main Post in Simone's home town, Manfred Schweidler, has been covering the case since 2005, and was in regular contact with the Strobel family.

"They move between hope and despair," Mr Schweidler said.

Simone's father Gustl Strobel told him: "We really hope, the investigators had done their work very well".

Mr Schweidler said when he spoke to Gustl Strobel about the arrest, he heard a happiness that he had not heard in his voice before.

Today, speaking in Lismore about the case, Acting Premier Paul Toole said they had "never given up hope' of making an arrest.

He said police wanted to give some closure to the family.

He said he knew that they, and the Lismore community wanted answers, and they are now "a step closer to having answers for the family".

Superintendent Scott Tanner from the Richmond Police District said police had been in contact with the family to relay the news of the arrest.

"They are understandably still very distressed about the events that occurred. Their 25-year-old daughter was on an adventure of a lifetime. They never got to say goodbye."

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