The Wilsons River fell below the major flood level mark of 9.7 metres at 9:15pm yesterday as floodwaters slowly recede. Currently, the river level is 8.48m, the moderate level is the next mark to go below at 7.2m.

(Browns Creek Pump Station with the floodwaters below the levee. Photo: NR Aerial Photography)

NSW SES Evacuation Orders are current for Lismore CBD, Lismore Basin and low-lying areas of East Lismore and Girards Hill, North Lismore and Areas of South Lismore

Flood water is still present inside the levee within the Lismore CBD which may not correlate to the height of the river gauge. This flood water will begin to recede over the coming days.

With only Browns Creek pump station working in the CBD because of the damage to other pumps suffered in the record-breaking February 28 flood, floodwaters will be slower to recede.

Lismore City Council restored power to the Browns Creek pump station yesterday morning and both pumps have been operating since approx. 10.00am yesterday pumping water from the basin. The rate of water drop in the basin is currently approx. 60mm/hr.

Gasworks Creek pumps are still inoperable as they were damaged in the previous event. The hired pumps installed for this event were removed before the levee overtopped to prevent them being damaged. Access is not possible at this stage to reinstate these. Council will reassess the situation as access becomes available.

Lower Hollingworth pumps in South Lismore and the Victoria Street pump are still inaccessible and inoperable.

Council staff will continue to monitor the pumps and operate the levee system overnight.

ELECTRICITY UPDATE

Floodwaters have hampered Essential Energy’s ability to assess the electricity network across parts of Lismore including the CBD.

As soon as teams can safely access sites, we will start the process of checking whether parts of the network can be safely restored; and restart assessing, cleaning and repairing the electricity network.

As at 3.30pm yesterday, approximately 4,100 customers remain without power across Lismore, majority of which are affected by the precautionary de-energisation of parts of the electricity network ensuring the community’s safety.