The debate about flood mitigation in Lismore is over.

With Lismore Mayor Steve Krieg by his side, today Federal MP Kevin Hogan announced big bucks for flood mitigation projects across NSW.

Watch the live stream video of the announcement.

“For too long previous Councils have debated the merits of flood mitigation,” Mr Hogan said.

“Today that debate is done. Those days are finished.”

Mr Hogan said $10 million would be allocated to a flood mitigation study for the Wilsons and Richmond River catchment, led by the CSIRO. This will include the whole catchment and all towns and villages within the catchment.

This would be followed by another $75 million for flood-affected NSW communities to share and implement the findings of flood mitigation studies.

“For everyone who is against engineering solutions to flood mitigation, the debate is over. We will be doing engineering work for flood mitigation,” Mr Hogan said.

“Our community needs confidence, and that is what this provides.”

Shared with 81 LGAs

Federal Minister for Emergency Services and Resilience, Steph Cook joined the pair to announce a total of $150 million would be allocated to 81 flood-affected LGAs across NSW and Queensland. Half for NSW and half for Qld.

She said the money from the Emergency Response Fund would be backed up with another $150 million in the next financial year.

“The money is for projects local Councils know they need for flood mitigation and they need to be agreed on with Commonwealth Government,” she said.

“Steve and Kevin are clear that we need longer-term recovery responses - but we also need to invest in hard infrastructure to secure the future of Lismore.

“This means engineering solutions based on science and investment.”

Minister Cook also said it was important that any flood mitigation project ideas put forward to government would need to have the backing of the local community.

“Confidence”

Lismore Mayor Steve Krieg said the study would give businesses of all sizes the confidence to stay in Lismore and grow.

“I was put in the chair to rebuild Lismore – then this unfortunate natural disaster hit us – but it has only strengthened the resolve," he said.

“This regional and catchment-wide study is vital to protect Lismore, Coraki, Ballina and Casino and it needs to be done quickly."

“Quick-fix solution is a mistake”

National Recovery Resilience Agency governor-general Shane Stone said the flood mitigation study would be “done properly” and would take time – up to a “couple of years”.

When asked if there was anything that could be done immediately to mitigate against flood, he said there was no short term solution.

“The quick-fix solution is a mistake,” he said.

“This 10 million study will inform what project would work in terms of water security and water diversion - and this will impact, we hope, all communities downstream.

“This week the CSIRO already met with my officers and now we will engage with local council.

“The solution is yet to be decided. It will be decided by using the latest science and we have no pre-conceived ideas.

Holding ponds

“It will be decided by what the experts find. For example, it could be a series of holding ponds that floodwater tips into."

Mr Stone said the money from the government for the study and the support of the newly elected local council would allow greater ‘traction’ and ‘grunt’ to progress the study.

“I came to Lismore four months ago and met with council then, but they couldn’t agree what to do in Lismore,” he said.

“Now there’s a change of pace and I look forward to working with Council and MP Hogan.”