CSIRO flood report must be the start of action, not the end of a conversation
The release of the landmark CSIRO Northern Rivers Resilience Initiative report must mark a turning point in how governments approach flood resilience across the Northern Rivers, with State Nationals MP for Clarence Richie Williamson calling for urgent action to ensure its findings are translated into real outcomes for communities.
Flood defence finally finished
After years of waiting, Donald's long-anticipated flood levee project has reached completion, with construction of the town's second demountable flood barrier recently finished by Eco Infrastructure. The second wall, located on the town side of the Richardson River, has been under construction since April 13. It completes Donald's pair of demountable flood barriers designed to protect the township from future flooding.
CSIRO Northern Rivers flood mitigation report – Higginson and Hogan respond
The final report of the CSIRO team behind the Northern Rivers Resilience Initiative has been delivered, Scenario testing and recommendations for future flood mitigation activities in the Richmond River catchment in the Northern Rivers region, NSW, Australia. NSW Greens MP and spokesperson for the North Coast, Sue Higginson and Kevin Hogan, Federal Minister for Page, respond notably differently to the Report's findings and recommendations.
Flood report a welcome step, but leaves some Tweed impacts unrecognised
Tweed Shire Council welcomes the release of CSIRO’s Northern Rivers Resilience Initiative flood mitigation report, focused on detailed flood modelling and mitigation scenarios for the Richmond River catchment around Lismore.
Rebuilding connection: 150 flood restoration projects now complete
For communities across Lismore, recovery is no longer just something being planned - it’s being felt, as Lismore City Council reaches a milestone 150 projects now complete. Across the Local Government Area, works completed since the 2022 disasters include reopened and repaired roads, restored community buildings and sporting facilities, and enhanced flood pump infrastructure.
Report slams performance of post-flood programs
The NSW Reconstruction Authority has begun rolling out a new series of targeted information and industry sessions to help flood-impacted residents in the Northern Rivers move from the planning phase into active construction and relocation. This comes in the wake of the NSW Auditor-General's scathing report on the performance of the $880m Resilient Homes Program and...
Reusing buybacks and pod homes aims to address housing shortage
Buyback homes and temporary home pods will be part of a housing reuse initiative by NSW Reconstruction Authority and Homes NSW. The homes will be offered for affordable, social, transitional, crisis or key worker housing, or as community spaces.
Lovell demands Labor rule out compulsory flood easements
Liberal Member for Northern Victoria Wendy Lovell has demanded that the Minister for Water rule out introducing legislation to more easily enable the compulsory acquisition of flood easements, and confirm the previous commitment not to use existing powers to flood private land without consent.
Haines bill will strengthen disaster communications
Warning that repeated communications failures in regional areas are putting lives at risk, Member for Indi, Helen Haines, on Monday introduced legislation to improve the resilience of Australia's telecommunications networks during natural disasters. Dr Haines said North-East Victoria has endured successive catastrophic events in recent years including the Black Summer bushfires, major flooding in 2022 and 2023 and the January 2026 bushfires that devastated parts of Indi.
Program to protect flooded Northern Rivers homes has just 1 per cent completion rate, Auditor General criticises recovery: Higginson
Just 54 Northern Rivers homes have accessed house-raises and retrofits to protect against floods, despite promises of 4,400 house-raises and retrofits made in the aftermath of the 2022 flood catastrophe - a 1 per cent completion rate in 4 years. The NSW Auditor General ... released a report criticising the design and establishment of the Resilient Homes Program...
Buyback land to be used for parks, hubs, environmental projects but never for houses
What will happen to land made vacant from buybacks? The NSW Reconstruction Authority said it will work with local councils to plan the future of buyback areas as parklands, community hubs, or environmental projects. In specific cases where flood risk is strictly managed, some sites may also be used for commercial or industrial purposes.
Flood-prone house demolition continues
Miriam Torzillo. Just when we thought the Reconstruction Authority (RA) had got the message that the Big Scrub homes should be deconstructed, salvaged or relocated, reports are coming in from residents about the ramping up of demolition in Lismore. Locals have been recording the destruction and sharing it on social media. The community is not happy.
New-look Disaster Dashboard now live!
Lockyer Valley Regional Council’s Disaster Dashboard is now even better equipped to help the community handle whatever Mother Nature throws our way. Council’s Disaster Management team has launched a brand-new Flood Cameras page on the Disaster Dashboard – further bolstering our preparedness in times of disaster.
Flood that cost over $3.7 billion
Four years on from one of the biggest floods in living memory across the Northern Rivers region that was also Australia’s biggest natural disaster, people, homes and businesses are still feeling the impact ... On the four-year anniversary of the floods, Deputy Leader of the Federal Nationals, Member for Page Kevin Hogan slammed what had been done to help Lismore recover and rebuild.
Time for the Commonwealth to finally deliver Barkly radar: Edgington
The Commonwealth must finally deliver a new weather radar for the Barkly region that the region has been waiting a decade for ... “The residents of the Barkly have been waiting for a new weather radar since the Federal Government de-commissioned the old one in 2015 - over a decade ago,” Mr Edgington said.
Rural Aid calls for volunteers to roll up their sleeves for 2026 Farm Recovery Events
Rural Aid has released its 2026 Farm Recovery Event (FRE) program, delivering practical, hands-on support to farming communities impacted by floods, fires, cyclones and ongoing drought. These week-long events bring together volunteers from across the country to help restore damaged farm infrastructure, improve productivity and support the wellbeing of farming families doing it tough.
A one-metre error that has locked residents out of insurance and off their own land for years
For years, residents of Wilcannia and Menindee say they have been living with the consequences of a government mapping error they had no part in creating. A one-metre inaccuracy in state-provided flood mapping has incorrectly placed large sections of both towns inside flood-prone zones, with consequences that have quietly devastated the ability of ordinary people to insure their homes and develop their land.
Reflecting on the Gannawarra’s recovery from the 2022 floods
Residents and visitors are now able to view a photographic display highlighting the Gannawarra’s recovery from the 2022 floods. The Gannawarra Reflect & Connect – A Celebration of Community exhibition, located within Kerang’s Patchell Plaza, marks the end of the recovery from the 2022 flood with the Emergency Recovery Victoria supported Gannawarra Flood Recovery Program officially ending on 31 January 2026.
Rivers of opportunity lost – Measure water properly, build dams, develop North Queensland: Robbie Katter
The latest floods have again shown that the ‘data’ used by the bureaucrats in Brisbane for all things water is farcical, or terribly inaccurate at best, The Katter’s Australian Party (KAP) Leader, and Member for Traeger has said ... “The Department simply have no idea how much water there is! They’re the same Department who openly say there isn’t enough water to release to farmers.”
Aerial shooters engaged to reduce feral pig numbers during flood recovery: McBain, Perrett
Experienced aerial shooters are being engaged to reduce feral pig numbers in flood-ravaged north-west Queensland, backed by the Albanese and Crisafulli Governments. The initiative is part of a $11.32 million Primary Producer Support Package announced under joint Commonwealth-state Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA) in response to the North Queensland Monsoon Trough and ex-Tropical Cyclone Koji.
‘A stitch in time saves nine’ – Opportune time for feral pig action: Katter
“I was in a grazier’s chopper being shown around, and he made the clear observation that like the surviving cattle, wild pigs are corralling on the islands that have formed in the inland sea that is the flood water. While the flood water presents many challenges, one opportunity would be for real and effective management of the feral pig numbers throughout the Gulf,” the KAP Leader said.
Queensland Rail the only dam builders in Queensland: Katter
After seeing the devastating flooding firsthand, it’s clear the only new dams in Queensland are to be found against Queensland Rail (QR) tracks! The Katter’s Australian Party (KAP) Leader, and Member for Traeger has said. Large swathes of built-up rail line with poor drainage in the flood affected areas around Julia Creek are acting as dam walls, preventing flood waters from receding.
