Media statement by Lismore City Mayor Steve Krieg
The release today of Phase 2 of the CSIRO's flood modelling for the Richmond River Catchment marks a pivotal moment for Lismore and the Northern Rivers.
This is the most detailed and scientifically robust flood mapping our region has ever seen, setting a critical foundation for informed government action.
Built on local data, remote sensing, and advanced hydrodynamic modelling, the report offers an unprecedented understanding of how floodwaters move through our catchment. It not only sheds light on the catastrophic 2022 floods but gives governments the technical confidence to invest in meaningful resilience measures.
Lismore City Council welcomes this report as a vital tool in shaping our recovery and future. We thank the CSIRO team, led by Jai Vaze, for their integrity and transparency in delivering this complex work. With peer review by three independent international experts the model sets a new global standard.
But this is not the end, it's the beginning. The modelling is done. The need is urgent. Now we call on the Australian Government to fund the implementation of CSIRO's forthcoming mitigation recommendations.
What's required is leadership and investment to turn science into action in order to protect lives, homes, jobs, infrastructure and economies.
The cost of the 2022 flooding disaster in this region alone has reached an estimate $16 billion and is expected to rise further, not to mention the human impact. For a region that has experienced 129 floods in 150 years, investment in resilience is a no brainer.
We also renew our call for a national insurance pool. Lismore residents and businesses have shown extraordinary resilience, but they continue to face crippling premiums. That's not fair, and it's not sustainable.
Lismore is a regional linchpin, a hub for health, education, industry, and essential services. Investing in our resilience is investing in the future of the Northern Rivers.
As a Council we're ready to lead differently, to back the science, partner with government, and deliver long-term resilience for sustainable growth.
