Lismore's LGA (local government area) is quite sizeable. It includes a lot of villages that can be the subject of debate in the council chambers; Nimbin and Dunoon are two that spring to mind. However, there are even smaller pockets of the LGA that many wouldn't know are part of Lismore. Places like East Coraki, Broadwater and Woodburn North have very small populations - often only a street or two. 

David & Carmel and Chrissie live on the banks of the Richmond River on the Lismore side of Woodburn. David has been a resident for over 60 years, and Chrissie moved into her place three weeks prior to the 2022 floods.

As an almost forgotten part of the Lismore LGA, the Lismore App asked them about their experience over the last couple of years and what that means when a potential flood threatens once more.

Their stories make it plain why so many people are still suffering so long after the flood waters of 2022 have subsided.

Their home on Bank Street is pothole-laden, uncurbed, with signs askew and awash with debris. The verges are neatly mown, but it turns out that one of the locals does it “so you can see the snakes coming up from the river.” It gives them less places to hide."

David has lived his entire life in the same house in Woodburn. He married his sweetheart, Carmel, in his early 20s, and they have lived there together for over 60 years. They have prepared for, seen and survived many floods in that time.

Chrissie is a relatively new resident, moving into her new home at the beginning of 2022. When most people would be unpacking and decorating, Chrissie woke up unexpectedly around 3.40am one morning to find her new haven, waist-deep in water, rising swiftly.

Chrissie, new to this lifestyle, called a friend who came to help her get out. Chrissie grabbed the bare essentials, not imagining the flood would get to the height it did - most of the way up the top level of the house.  

Carmel recalls the big difference in the 2022 flood, “There was no real information before the flood. We generally get three days' notice when it floods. It floods in Lismore, and we know how high it's going to be here. And they kept telling us it was going to be the height of the '54 flood.

“David lived here in the '54 flood, and we have lifted the house since the '74 flood. And so we packed up that high, never dreaming it would come in. And then we got over half a metre in the top story here, and it was just so terrifying. The speed of it, the rain and no real information about it.”

David and Carmel were much better prepared than Chrissie. They moved their vehicle and caravan to safe ground (where over 100 vehicles were inundated), lifting things on the ground level and made sure they had enough supplies to wait out the high water.

They stayed at the house through that Monday night as the rivers rose swiftly, keeping an eye on the river level and salvaging what they could—their two boats being tied to the back of their house as the rising waters threatened to take or destroy them.

The SES came for a neighbour at about 2am, but the water was not sufficient to give them concern. By the morning, the situation had changed drastically, and with the water within half a metre of the top story, they left. 

Carmel had packed bags for both of them the night before, “I didn't bring much; I didn’t even think to get the jewellery. I think we were in a state of shock.”

Both residents ended up in Evans Head to wait out the slow retreat of the water. Carmel said, “We were in Evan Head for a week before we could get home. We've never been blocked out as long as those two floods, in 2022, and I think that’s because of the highway.”

Chrissie said, “I definitely agree; it caused a dam effect.”

Carmel said, “The support we got from people, the ones that you least expect, it brought out the best. But the worst in some, too.” 

The assistance they have received has been a mixed affair. Neither house was fit to live in, and both lived in caravans for a period of time.

Carmel recalls it was DCJ (Department of Communities and Justice) Housing that helped when they first got back to Woodburn and needed a place to stay.

‘When we got our caravan, they paid for our rent at the caravan park (in Woodburn). For two weeks, it started with.”

The couple was keen to get back into their home, so as soon as the shed was cleaned out, they moved into that. “They rang me in the morning to see if we needed to extend but we just wanted to get home.”

With help from family members, their shed was cleaned out and power was restored within two weeks of the flood.

DJC Housing provided a number if they changed their minds. Then followed up when another flood threatened. "Never dreaming we'd have to get out again. On the Monday morning, they rang to check on us, just for our welfare.”

Carmel and David declined, hoping they would sit this one through, but no. They had to call them back and arrange alternate accommodation again. This was all done seamlessly for the pair by phone.  

Again, they only needed two weeks before they could move back into their shed.

DCJ Housing was so impressed with the capability of Carmel and David that they arranged to meet them, “Because you are an inspiration,” which made them feel really validated.

Chrissie was provided with a caravan to stay on her property. “I got a caravan out the front for a while. I think that was the best option. But then I felt guilty. Because it sleeps five and there's only me and my dog. 

“So I just said, Look, give this to a family of five. I went back to Evans so that someone else could have the van.” Chrissie had access to a place where she could stay in Evans Head.

Chrissie's house has only been rated liveable in the last four months. She has concentrated on the upper level - there are many things to be done to finish it off properly.

Residents from Woodburn were eligible for the $20,000 given to the flood affected. Carmel says, “We got the money that Lismore ratepayers got from the Lismore Council. Chrissie adds, “But only if you applied for it. Somebody told me about it, so that’s why I got it.”

Carmel mentions, “When I go for my walks in the morning, it’s so depressing to see some of the houses, isn't it?”

Chrissie replies, “Absolutely. I've been lucky enough to have help from Resilient Lismore, but some of these guys are not getting any help whatsoever. Nothing from the council.” Carmel agrees.

“Immediately, no, and not two and a half years later. I just feel that they don't want Bank Street.”

Chrissie counts herself lucky that she has had assistance from community groups.  

She couldn’t speak highly enough about the help she got from Natasha Shearer and the Rebuilding NR team, as well as Resilient Lismore, which has checked in with them and provided much-needed support for the area.

“I wouldn’t have walls if it wasn't for Resilient Lismore,” Chrissie said.

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“Natasha was marvellous,” said Carmel. “She’s incredible,” added Chrissie.

Chrissie applied to the RA as soon as the offer was made for a buyback, retrofit or lift. Carmel and David applied right before the cutoff. Neither have had much luck navigating this process, finding it difficult and cumbersome.

Chrissie knew someone involved with the buybacks and hoped that it might help her get through the process. The only real help she got was some unfettered feedback, “ I was told, ‘I can't tell you anything more about it, but it looks to me like you're on the wrong side of the river.’

“They've done a couple of buybacks. I'm really happy for them, but at the same stage, it divides a community, when you're living across from them or on the same street.”

Both residents are still waiting on decisions from the RA.

“Quite a few of us along here registered with the Reconstruction Authority for a lift or retrofit or buyback,” Carmel turns to Chrissie, “Have you heard back from them?” And Chrissie replies, “No.”

“We did everything by the end of November,” says Carmel, “In the middle of January, we hadn't heard anything, so I rang them up. We'd hear by the end of January, they said.“

One of their neighbours was sending emails every week and “not getting any reply.”

Carmel chased them by phone, in person at Lismore, and went to meetings. Communication back in February/March seemed promising, “It was the business community, there were three from the Service New South Wales that were doing all this, the headmaster from the school, and Robert Hayes (Richmond Valley Council) were there.

“Tony Carusi said the trouble is there's no communication.” The point was made that the buyback situation was killing Woodburn, and one of the people present at one meeting, “admitted that they'd done it wrong.”

There were promises of calls and information to be provided, but nothing came through.  

Mid-year, Carmel said, “I got a phone call to say that we may be eligible for lift or retrofit, not a buyback. Well, I thought it would be nice to get a retrofit or get some money back from what we'd spent.”

Three weeks ago, Carmel called again, and was told, “We're still waiting on the flood height assessment but it’s 12 months since they said they were coming around to do them.”

Carmel was told on the 23rd of September that they put her forward to start the process. Nothing has been said or done since.

Chrissie received a bizarre communication while she was away: “They sent this email to me while I was in the desert, and it said, “Your application has been rejected. “That was it. 

“So I burst into tears because I was pinning my hopes that I would get a retrofit. 

“Then, about four hours later, I get another email from them saying, Please disregard the last email we said. Now that leaves me up in limbo, and I never heard back from them.”

Both have had people come to their house to say they were doing flood height assessments, but apparently, these preliminary assessments did not go towards receiving help from the RA.  

There have been mix-ups with reports - it has been a convoluted process.

Speaking with the RA, they could not provide information for that area in particular. The RA recommended that if residents hadn’t heard back, they call to see where things were at. Chrissie rang at the end of last week and was told the same thing: " They are still doing flood level assessments.”

As for the reason why it is taking so long, Chrissie was told: “It is a very long process because there are so many houses to do.” Chrissie was told to keep calling them.

(The flood at the end of September, the river heights didn't register even a minor flood at Coraki, but East Coraki was like an inland sea.)

Carmel and David have always been prepared for floods, but at their age, things get a little more complicated. Their level of concern rises with rain, and David’s health is starting to wane.

Chrissie is having a hard time adjusting to the new reality. Since the floods, she has suffered from PTSD. She feels it when the F word is mentioned. Rain brings back all the memories. She says she can’t say how important it is for her peace of mind when people check in with her around weather events.  

Last week, when the flood warnings came through, her reaction was “Not good. I was worried that my house is still gonna go under. I have a big feeling that it will happen again, maybe not quite that high, but I do believe we're in for another big year soon.

“I ran away for the night because I didn't want to be here. I can pack my car in an hour and a half now. I've got it down to a fine art.”

The media attention around the February 28 2022, big flood was centred around Lismore and, to a lesser extent, Ballina, Byron, Casino and Kyogle. Those living in the forgotten parts of the Lismore LGA, Woodburn and East Coraki, felt like they were on their own, and still do.

In July 2022, Lismore City Council issued the final report of their flood study. In it, they reported that 1720 houses were flood-affected, 1399 suffered major damage. It is not clear whether this figure covers the whole LGA or just Lismore City; the bulk of the report seems to concentrate on the urban centre. Council has been contacted for information on Woodburn. However, their reply has not been received at this point.