In a live Facebook video broadcast by police from Sydney Police Centre at 4.30pm, Acting Assistant Commissioner Wayne Humphrey said the lockdown at Lismore’s Southern Cross University is now being lifted.

“The lockdown is being lifted as the portions of the university deemed to be at risk are cleared,” he said.

Assistant Commissioner Humphrey said the lockdown was the result of a single threatening phone call from a male.

“The phone call went for long enough that police could converse with the male for some period of time,” he said.

“It was serious enough that police went to the location but, there is no credible threat at this stage.

“Our response was commensurate to the risk and we were on the ground quickly."

Assistant Commissioner Humphrey said there were 70 tactical police and highway patrol officers on site during the response.

Earlier reports from social media speculated about there being a gunman on campus, causing the lockdown, but no-one was found with a gun on campus.

He said that the social media response to the event as it unfolded made it a “convoluted and intense experience”.

“People using social media people were concerned about police flooding into a school,” he said.

“Our experience shows that this information is essential - not unhelpful - but it makes it for a convoluted and intense experience as we respond.”

He said about 750 were at the university during the incident and about 200 were in the locked down area. 

“That area is now cleared and everyone was helpful. They understood there was a threat and they let the police do their job,” he said.

University staff and students on campus were invited to meet at The Deck and Lounge (uni bar) from 7pm to meet with police, who would accompany them to their rooms and vehicles. No direct access will be allowed.

Vehicles exiting the campus this evening have to travel via Kellas Street or Daley Street.

For more information about the story as it unfolded read Southern Cross Uni in lockdown after gunman reported on campus