On Monday 13 October, I had the honour of representing Kempsey Shire at the LGNSW Flood Recovery Forum, held at NSW Parliament in Sydney. The forum brought together mayors and general managers from the Northern Rivers, Mid-North Coast and Central West, regions that have been hardest hit by flooding in recent years.
It was a valuable opportunity to speak with a united voice to the NSW Government about our communities' experiences with flood recovery — what's working, what's not, and what needs to improve. I shared our local experience — the extensive damage to infrastructure, the ongoing strain on Council resources, and the remarkable resilience shown by our community.
Kempsey Shire is one of the most flood-prone regions in NSW, with our 11,500 km² Macleay River catchment stretching as far as Tamworth and Armidale. Since 2009, we've faced 26 natural disaster declarations, including floods, bushfires, droughts and coastal storms. The 2025 flood alone caused $80 million in damage to public assets.
Flooding this year hit hardest around Kempsey township and downstream through Smithtown, Gladstone and the Macleay Valley Floodplain. Significant areas of the Shire downstream of Turners Flat were inundated, impacting homes, businesses, and grazing land across the lower Macleay.
Council continues to invest in preparedness, including our popular Big Map flood education sessions. While these initiatives strengthen community awareness, lasting resilience requires more than short-term projects. To build resilience and support recovery, we need stable, long-term funding. Continued partnership and more consistent resourcing, beyond individual project grants, will help us plan and deliver enduring outcomes.
Better collaboration between agencies and councils — including sharing information and data — is essential. Working together is vital to achieving the best outcomes for our communities.
Thank you to LGNSW for hosting this important event, and to my fellow mayors for standing together. With shared knowledge and united voices, we can drive meaningful change for our communities.
— Mayor Kinne Ring
