With Lismore's flood anniversary drawing close, the first step in prevention is being offered with a promise to "pump" out the problem.
A much-anticipated CSIRO report into flood resilience released today has been touted as the answer to protecting the Northern Rivers region from future flood catastrophes, like the one it experienced in February 2022.
Lismore Mayor Steve Krieg is relieved that one of the report's priorities is the region's pumping systems, which have been left to languish.
"We've asked for many, many years in Lismore that we need pump upgrades," he said.
"This is all fully funded through this report, and for the people of Lismore, that is a massive relief.
"[It's] also an opportunity to say, 'Well, the government is actually doing something to help'."
Pumps in the Northern Rivers failed to cope with the extremes of the 2022 event.
Pump up the action
Federal Emergency Services Minister Murray Watt said $150 million in Commonwealth funding was allocated last year towards the flood mitigation projects.
"We will be announcing $50 million as the first instalment today while we work through the remainder of the projects over the next couple of months," he said.
Mr Watt said the first step in the CSIRO report was the desktop analysis of council projects.
The Northern Rivers Resilience project, led by the CSIRO, has evaluated more than 300 such projects and shortlisted 62.
Its recommendations were provided to the Federal government in November.
"Certainly one of the things the CSIRO report found was the flood gauge network is not adequate in this day and age," Senator Watt said.
"We did see a lot of complaints from people that they didn't get warning early enough to get out, and improving the flood gauge network is a really important part of providing timely information to people."
Regional community flood risk awareness will receive $3 million.
Senator Watt said as a "matter of urgency" flood management and mitigation structures needed to be prioritised.
"Things like drainage and pump stations are not the most glamorous parts of the flood network, but are really important to minimise the impact of floods and minimise the loss," he said.
The next step
The next stage of research for the CSIRO will focus on flood hydrology data and analysis — something that's never been done before.
Report author Jai Vaze believes the CSIRO is up to the huge task of looking at how the Richmond River copes with flood water.
"Those who know the catchment [know], it is one of the most complex catchments — but CSIRO is confident we have the capability," he said.
Senator Watt said the region had been "incredibly badly knocked around".
"With the best will of the world from governments, it is going to take time to recover," he said.
