Lismore City Council is bidding farewell to its old tractor-driven flood pump at Magellan Street pump station in favour of a high-tech upgrade, as the community moves to a modern era of flood infrastructure and resilience.
Alder has been awarded the contract to deliver the project, following a robust tender process. Work is scheduled to commence from mid-April 2026.
At the same time, Alder will construct a brand-new pump station at Snow Street in South Lismore, with the facility designed to help keep essential evacuation and emergency service access routes open for longer.
Lismore Mayor Steve Krieg says, "Magellan Street currently has a manual tractor-driven pump, which means two operators need to back a tractor up to the levee during heavy rainfall and remain onsite for as long as it's safe to do so."
"It's a fairly basic system that's served us since the early 2000s, but it's time to embrace a more high-tech solution that suits our needs now and in the future."
That solution includes the installation of two new submersible electric pumps with a combined capacity of 1000L/second, which is a significant boost, compared to the 600L/second of the current pump.
Additionally, a larger pump well will be created to improve water management at the facility, while station electricals will be raised above the 2022 flood height of 14.4-metres. The much-loved 'Pride' mural will remain.
When complete, both pump stations will be remotely controllable, following the recent rollout of a new fibre optic network linking all of Lismore's pump stations.
Mayor Krieg describes the upgrade as "a gamechanger for Lismore's responsiveness to future floods," adding that "Council staff will be able to monitor and control the pumps from a safe distance, dialling them up or down as needed."
Federal Minister for Emergency Management Kristy McBain says: "This project is another example of the Albanese Government's commitment to working with all levels of government to support the Lismore community's long-term resilience to the impacts of natural disasters.
"Lismore community members will benefit from this greatly. Whether you're a resident or an emergency worker, this pump ensures that we are in a better position to recover from future disasters."
NSW Minister for Recovery Janelle Saffin says: "We all remember the devastation of the CBD following the 2022 floods and the impacts of more recent events, with tractor drivers putting themselves in danger to manually pump water out."
"This investment means that will no longer be the case. Our CBD will be better protected, and in the event of severe weather, council and emergency services can focus on helping those in other areas who need it."
Weather permitting, completion at both sites is anticipated in September 2026.
Commencement at Magellan and Snow Streets follows the completion of upgrades at Gasworks Creek pump station in East Lismore and the refurbishment of Upper Hollingworth Creek flood gate in South Lismore.
These projects are proudly funded by the Australian Government through the Northern Rivers Recovery and Resilience Program 2022-23, administered by the NSW Reconstruction Authority.
