With the four-year anniversary of the 2022 natural disaster only three months away, Lismore City Council wants residents to ask themselves, 'Am I bloody ready?'

A recent survey of Lismore LGA residents found that while 82% were “very” or “somewhat” concerned about future floods, only 29% felt they were well prepared for a future flood event.

“This is why Lismore City Council is joining with NSW Reconstruction Authority, SES and the Red Cross to hold a free Be Flood Ready event to provide residents with localised information to help people better understand their flood risk and take practical steps to prepare,” Mayor Krieg said.

“Those attending the event at the Lismore Regional Library next Wednesday, 3 December, will get hands-on help downloading and learning how to use emergency apps and other emergency resources, including Council’s individual Property Flood Certificates for those living in urban and southern areas of the LGA, with northern rural areas to be included soon.”

The certificates provide specific details for individual addresses, including natural ground levels and building floor levels, along with definitions for commonly used flood terms. Long-term residents who have been living in the flood plain for sometime, will know this, but new residents or those living on the fringe of the flood plain can get a realistic view of what size floods would affect their property.

Lismore has a long history of experiencing floods, the Mayor said.

“Understanding your flood risk is crucial for effective planning. Knowing how floods may affect your property helps you make informed decisions before, during and after a flood,” he said.

“As well as a new SES video showing how the water flows through our catchment during a flood, there is also a special Storytime session for young children to help them understand floods and minimise trauma.”

Council is also doing its part to support the community to prepare for floods.

“We have taken on board the lessons identified in the 2022 disaster,” Mayor Krieg said.

Since 2022, Council has installed solar-powered, digital advanced flood warning signs with monitoring cameras at key locations on Boat Harbour, Wyrallah and Nimbin roads, the lowest points. Photos will be uploaded onto Council’s website and updated every 15 minutes during a flood, so people can see if the road has water over it and when it has receded. These cameras will go live from next Wednesday, 3 December.

This year, to improve flood intelligence across the catchment, five new river and rain gauges have also been installed, including at Nimbin, Keerong and South Lismore.

Jessica Anderson, Lismore Council's Emergency Management Coordinator, explained that Council's 10 flood and rainfall gauges or flood warning infrastructure were transferred to the Bureau of Meteorology following a recommendation from the 2022 Flood Inquiry.

"That was done with a recommendation because of the lack of maintenance and the issues experienced in 2022, that gauges in New South Wales are transferred to the bureau with a significant budget for maintenance and upgrades in order to bring to their service level standard, which will link into the flood warning system in order to improve things from 2022."

Jessica said that council has confidence that the rainfall gauges will perform under similar rainfall events, such as the February 2022 flood.

In addition, the Browns Creek pump station overtopping digital display will be live on Council’s disaster dashboard, so that those who are interested can monitor future events in real time, safely from home.

Below are the details for next week's in-person events:

Event #1

Go along to a fun story time hosted by the NSW SES for children aged 3-5. A variety of trauma-informed activities have been planned, including reading the children’s book Birdie and the Flood. Written and published by Children’s Health Queensland, the story is designed to help young children:

• learn what happens when it rains a lot and causes flooding
• learn who can help in a flood
• work through sad or scary feelings
• understand they will feel safe and happy again

Date: Wednesday, 3 December

Location: Lismore Library, 110 Magellan Street, Lismore

Time: 10.30-11.30am

Presenters: NSW SES and Lismore Library staff

Event # 2

BE FLOOD READY: Feel more confident and prepared for future floods

Go along for a free, interactive flood preparedness community event at the Lismore Library to help you stay safe. You will:

• Learn about flood preparedness and emergency resources
• Get hands-on help downloading and using emergency apps
• Understand your property flood risk and how floods behave locally
• Hear about new local flood resilience initiatives
• Enjoy light refreshments

It’s a relaxed, hands-on session with friendly faces from the NSW Reconstruction Authority, Red Cross, NSW State Emergency Services, Lismore City Council and Lismore Library staff.

Register for the free community event by clicking here.

Date: Wednesday, 3 December

Location: Lismore Library, 110 Magellan Street, Lismore

Time: 12-1pm: 

Flood preparedness presentation Presenters: NSW RA, Red Cross, NSW SES, Lismore City Council