As we say goodbye to 2022, a year that Lismore and the Northern Rivers would dearly love to put behind them so we can look to the future, we look at the news stories that interested you the most.

The Lismore App has access to Google Analytics so we can see what stories are read the most, a pure statistical result.

Of course, the February 28 flood dominated the table. Without dwelling on an event that no one wants to relive, here are the Top 5:

1. Photos from today's flood forecast of 12m.
2. NSW SES issue evacuation warning for CBD basin, East Lismore and Girards Hill.
3. Wilson to reach 11.6m with CBD filling slowly.
4. CBD buildings and homes to be condemned
5. NSW SES: parts of South Lismore and lower parts of North Lismore prepare to evacuate.

Outside of the natural disaster itself, the next most popular news stories involved the flood aftermath and COVID:

1. Lismore Workers Club to close indefinitely.
2. Tragedy as Lismore's Lush music legend dies in parade (death of John Lush at Lismore Lantern Parade).
3. John and Carol reluctantly sell the Richmond Hotel.
4. Pictures from the CBD show the road ahead is long and uncertain.
5. First COVID death in the NR's as cases climb to 576.

COVID-19 was the next most-read news story as the global pandemic peaked along with stabbings in Lismore and Casino.

The biggest good news story was the Lismore man who won $1 million in lotto and was still "shaking like a leaf" and the Lismore App Shout-outs when we asked you to nominate people in our community who had gone above and beyond to help others soon after the floods.

The biggest Lismore City Council story was the sacking of then General Manager Michael Donnelly while you were interested in the ongoing updates of which local businesses were reopening in and around Lismore.

As we head into a state election in March 2023, Kevin Hogan claiming victory for the Federal seat of Page in May was another news story that caught your eye.

In the final moments of 2022, we know that we survived the toughest year on record. We may be scarred both physically and mentally from the events of February 28 but they proved how resilient we are as a community. There is a strength we have shown that only shows through adversity and we can be proud of how we have helped each other through Australia's largest natural disaster.

Of course, the road to recovery is going to be long and it requires patience, however, we have an opportunity to reimagine what Lismore and the Northern Rivers will look like in 10 years. An opportunity we didn't have before.

We have the government funding to make this a reality, so 2023 can be Year 1 of the Lismore and Northern Rivers rebuild. A year of optimism.

Happy New Year and thank you so much for reading and contributing to the Lismore App.