Four Northern Rivers schools look set to relocate out of flood-prone areas due to continued insurance coverage according to the Lismore Diocesan School Review Commission.

Two of those schools are within the Lismore local government area, Trinity Catholic College on Dawson Street and Our Lady Help of Christians in South Lismore.

The following statement was released by the Commission earlier this afternoon.

The Lismore Diocesan School Review Commission was established to examine and make recommendations to the Bishop of Lismore on the ongoing viability of Catholic schools in flood-affected areas. 

Advice has been received from our insurer that it cannot obtain re-insurance and, as a consequence, cannot insure schools in high flood-risk areas. This has implications for a number of schools in the area of review, which covers all Catholic schools from Murwillumbah (in the north) to Coraki (in the south) to Casino (in the west), including Catholic systemic schools and Trinity Catholic College Lismore. 

The schools potentially affected by this advice are: 

• Our Lady Help of Christians South Lismore
• St Joseph's Primary, Woodburn
• St Joseph's Primary, South Murwillumbah
• Trinity Catholic College, Lismore (both campuses)

The Diocesan School Review Commission is seeking further advice about these and a number of other schools, and a comprehensive program of community consultation will be seeking stakeholder input in coming weeks. 

Principal of Trinity Catholic College Jesses Smith sent this letter to parents in response:

Today, we write to inform you that we received the news that our current insurance company will not reinsure the College if we reinstate at our Saint Mary’s and Saint Joseph’s sites. There are many other factors that will need to be taken into consideration and which will guide the College Council and Master Planning Committee before any final decisions are made.

The Master Planning Committee will continue to update the College Council. We will keep you informed as we journey alongside the Diocesan School Review Commission through rebuilding our College with renewed energy and commitment to the future.

As you know, Trinity Catholic College has a proud and long history in the Lismore region and will continue to operate well into the future. We are on an exciting journey of rebuilding and we will remain at our temporary locations – Southern Cross University and St John’s College Woodlawn – as the Master Planning process continues.

We continue to take enrolments for 2023 and beyond in pleasing numbers, which is a positive indication of the community’s support for our wonderful College. “Same Spirit – Different Campus” will continue to guide our students, staff and parents in this period of change.

Trinity Catholic College has schooled many local Lismore and Northern Rivers residents since 1985 when St Mary's and Marist Brothers merged to form the new co-educational college.

Before that, the College's history dates back to 1886 when the Presentation Sisters commenced Saint Mary's College and continued its development when the Marist Brothers opened St Joseph's High School for Boys in 1911. 

Trinity is the only independent Catholic College in the Diocese of Lismore.