Residents reminded to prepare for severe weather event

On behalf of NSW State Emergency Services (SES), Clarence Valley Council is reminding residents to prepare for damaging winds, large surf and heavy rainfall as Tropical Cyclone Alfred is expected to make landfall late Thursday/early Friday before it weakens on Saturday.

The Bureau of Meteorology is expecting moderate to major flooding for both the Clarence River and Orara Rivers from rainfall associated with Cyclone Alfred, which may cause rapid river rises.

Widespread rainfall is expected to continue into the weekend with heavier localised isolated falls likely. Hazardous surf with 5-9m waves is also expected throughout the week through to Friday with coastal erosion and elevated sea levels into Saturday.

Clarence Valley Mayor Ray Smith says its essential for residents to be prepared for any weather that may come to the Clarence Valley.

“Cyclones can be so unpredictable, it’s important that all residents are prepared for any weather situation that may follow Cyclone Alfred. It’s important to secure anything that could be blown around your property to ensure your and your family’s safety.

There are several sandbag self-serve stations across the Clarence Valley to assist with your preparations:

• Copmanhurst – 15 Prescott Street, Copmanhurst
• Coutts Crossing – Adjacent to SES building, corner Kangaroo Creek Rd & Moe McIntosh Way
• Grafton – Irene Street, Grafton
• Harwood – Under the old Harwood Bridge (Harwood side)
• Maclean – Maclean Showgrounds
• Ulmarra – Corner of Big River Way and Coldstream Street, near RFS (sandbag machine to be positioned soon)
• Wooli – Wooli Road, Wooli

Clarence Valley Council staff are currently following the Flood Plan Management procedures to prepare to respond to any community asset interruptions while working alongside the NSW SES.

Stay informed

• Download the Hazards Near Me App for real-time warnings and information
• Follow NSW SES on Facebook: www.facebook.com/NSW.SES
• Live Traffic: www.livetraffic.com
• Latest River Heights and Rainfall observations: www.bom.gov.au/nsw/flood/northcoast.shtml
• Latest NSW Warnings: www.bom.gov.au/nsw/warnings/
• Rainfall Forecasts: www.bom.gov.au/australia/meteye/
• Flood monitoring cameras: www.clarence.nsw.gov.au/flood-monitoring-stations

Lismore City Council Launches ‘Live Flood Ready’ Campaign

By Jeff Gibbs

Lismore City Council has launched the Live Flood Ready campaign to help residents prepare for flooding—one of the region’s most significant natural hazards. Developed in response to community feedback, the campaign provides essential information, practical tools, and resources to ensure households are better equipped when severe weather strikes.

In partnership with the NSW State Emergency Service (SES), the campaign consolidates expert advice into a central hub, making flood preparedness easy and accessible for all residents.

Lismore Mayor Steve Krieg emphasized the importance of readiness, especially with Tropical Cyclone Alfred approaching.

“For those who have lived in Lismore their entire lives, flooding is a reality we cannot ignore. Lismore is built on a floodplain, and history tells us that we will experience flooding again. It is essential that we do not become complacent.”

“Each of us must take responsibility for preparedness. We can’t rely solely on emergency services—every household needs a plan and must be ready to act when necessary.”

What the Campaign Offers

Running for four weeks, Live Flood Ready directs residents to the updated Flood Information section on Council’s website, where they’ll find:

✅ Clear Explanations: Jargon-free definitions of flood-related terms.
✅ Preparation Tips & Tools: Steps to create emergency plans and kits.
✅ Recommended Apps & Resources: Tools for real-time weather alerts and flood warnings.
✅ Links to Key Agencies: Direct access to NSW SES, the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM), and official social media pages.

Residents can access these resources at www.lismore.nsw.gov.au by selecting the Natural Hazards section and clicking on Floods.

Beyond the Campaign: Regional Flood Awareness

Council is also collaborating with the NSW Reconstruction Authority and NSW SES on a broader flood-risk awareness program. Funded by the Northern Rivers Recovery and Resilience Program (NRRRP), this initiative will further strengthen community preparedness.

Council’s Role in a Flood Emergency

During a flood event, Lismore City Council plays a key role in supporting the NSW SES, which leads emergency responses. Council is responsible for:

🔹 Disseminating Emergency Information to keep residents informed.
🔹 Providing Resources to the SES, including personnel and equipment.
🔹 Monitoring Infrastructure, such as levees, roads, and public spaces.
🔹 Deploying Response Teams for immediate mitigation efforts.
🔹 Maintaining Essential Services like water, sewer, and waste management.
🔹 Supporting Community-Led Response Efforts through local initiatives.

Council works closely with the Local Emergency Management Committee (LEMC) to oversee prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery strategies.

How You Can Get Involved

Residents are encouraged to:

• Check their property’s flood risk using Council’s flood mapping tools.
• Develop a household emergency plan with evacuation routes and key contacts.
• Prepare an emergency kit with essentials like food, water, and medications.
• Stay informed through NSW SES alerts and official social media updates.
• Know their local evacuation points in case relocation is necessary.

For full details, visit www.lismore.nsw.gov.au, navigate to Natural Hazards, and select Floods.

By taking action now, we can work together to keep Lismore safe and prepared.

Emma Crethar of Broadwater named Clarence Electorate Local Woman of the Year

Member for Clarence, Richie Williamson, has proudly announced Emma Crethar as the Clarence Electorate Local Woman of the Year as part of International Women’s Day celebrations.

Emma has been at the forefront of ensuring the rebuild of Broadwater Public School happened as quickly as possible after it was devastated by the 2022 floods. As a dedicated leader of the Broadwater Public School P&C Association, she has fearlessly fought to overcome unnecessary bureaucratic obstacles that could have delayed the rebuild.

Richie Williamson visited Emma at her Broadwater home to present her with a heartfelt thanks and congratulations on her efforts. Emma is pictured with her husband Mal, daughter Paige, son Baiden, Coco the dog.

Mr Williamson said Emma’s leadership and determination had been instrumental in securing a fast-tracked, flood-resilient school, ensuring local children could return to learning in their own community.

“Emma led by example, and the Broadwater community followed,” Mr Williamson said.

“She never sought recognition – she just wanted to see the kids back in their school. But there is no doubt that Emma was the driving force behind this fight, and this award is just a small way of saying thank you for everything she has done.”

Emma said she was honoured and humbled to receive the recognition but emphasised that it was a shared achievement.

“I am truly honoured and humbled to receive this recognition. But I want to be clear—this award isn’t just mine. I accept it on behalf of our entire P&C, a group of strong, resilient, and supportive women who have worked tirelessly for the betterment of our kids and community,” she said.

“We are a group of mums who, after hearing ‘be patient’ and ‘trust the process’ one too many times, decided to take action. From our very first call for help, both Richie and the Broadwater community have stood by us every step of the way. We are so fortunate to call Broadwater home—our small village is built on a foundation of unwavering community spirit.

“Lastly, I want to thank my family for their constant support throughout this entire process. All the hard work will fade into the background on Day 1 of next term, when our kids walk into their new school for the first time—back in the heart of their community, where they truly belong.”

Mr Williamson said Emma’s fearlessness and tenacity in tackling government red tape had been a masterclass in community advocacy and that her legacy would be felt for generations to come.

“The Broadwater P&C Association, with Emma at the helm, never took no for an answer. She is incredibly humble, but the reality is that this school would not be nearing completion today without her determination. The entire Clarence electorate is proud of her.”

The new Broadwater Public School is set to open its doors to students on Day 1 of Term 2, 2025, marking a major milestone for the Broadwater community.

Withdrawing from the floodplain has failed – it’s time for real flood mitigation

Three years ago, our community faced Australia’s biggest natural disaster since Cyclone Tracy. The devastating floods tore through Lismore and the Mid Richmond, destroying thousands of homes and businesses – leaving an entire community with serious questions about its future.

In the aftermath, there were only two approaches that could have been taken: remove everyone from the floodplain, or keep them there and implement serious flood mitigation measures to lower the height of the next flood.

The NSW State Government chose the strategy of removing those in danger from the floodplain. This has failed.

Over 2,000 homes were identified to be unsafe. We are now in a position that less than half of the homes identified will be bought back. Some families who accepted a buyback, have purchased new properties back on the floodplain, highlighting the failure of this plan.

Individuals and families had nowhere to live and had to make decisions about their immediate future. Some people started putting money back into their homes and commenced renovations immediately. Others decided to sell their properties on the private market. The new property owners did not qualify for the buyback.

After the completion of the buyback program, maybe 900 of the 2000 homes identified by the NRRC will have been bought back. This means over 1000 homes will remain on the flood plain. Those individuals and families will be no safer and are still at risk. The CBD, industrial estates, businesses, villages, farmers and the road network are no safer.

The strategy of withdrawing from the floodplain has failed. Flood mitigation is the only strategy that will give the region a sustainable future and safety.

Over $800m has been spent on the original strategy of withdrawing from the floodplain. None of this money has lowered the level of the next flooding event. This means no home, business or industrial estate occupant, is in any safer.

Our path ahead must include a public commitment to flood mitigation. CSIRO will release a report this year, looking at practical scenarios that include engineering solutions to mitigate future flooding. This work is crucial.

If the community knows a metre or more will be taken off future events, they will invest and live in confidence in the Northern Rivers.

The McKell Institute’s Cost of Extreme Weather Report found that between 2005 and 2022, the Federal Government spent $23.99 billion on disaster recovery and relief, while only $1.51 billion was allocated for disaster prevention. This imbalance must change. Flood mitigation is the best prevention option for the Northern Rivers to grow and prosper. It will also save future governments—and therefore taxpayers—billions of dollars by reducing the impact of future disasters. The 2022 disaster alone is measured as a $15 billion event.

The Government at all levels must act. Decision-makers now will determine whether the next major flooding event in this region kills people, destroys lives financially, or if the region has been made safer. Mistakes have been made, and significant public funds have been spent with marginal return. This can be rectified with a real commitment to flood mitigation and a clear vision for the region’s future.

Watch the Interview: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ktfXZLc-mst5ROIzjsXMrrFN91xYcHMv/view

We need best practice in politics

By Dr Luke Robinson, Greens candidate for Page

If doctors like me practiced medicine the way many politicians do politics, we’d be struck off for malpractice, for pedaling disinformation, or for just sheer incompetence. In health care we have regulatory bodies watching us, but for politicians? Well, ultimately it is you, the voters. If you want change, you have to vote for it.

A topical case of political malpractice can be seen in the way some local politicians have been stirring up fear and outrage on youth crime. I understand the safety concerns for communities, but overall youth crime is down. However, these lazy politicians grossly overstate the extent of the problem, misdiagnose the causes, then proffer simplistic but harsh and costly remedies that only make the problem worse. As lawyer and Greens NSW MLC Sue Higginson says, “It costs $985,500 per year to lock up a young person – imagine the healing and real support we could provide vulnerable young people and their families with that much money…Sending young people to prison does not work to prevent and stop crime, it just teaches young people how to be better criminals.”

On energy policy, we still have some quacks prescribing the same out-dated diet (fossil fuels), despite decades of research showing it’s slowly killing the patient. Then offering another dangerous and even more expensive dish (nuclear) that will be served up too late in any case. All while the cheapest, plentiful, immediately available and safest food (renewables) sits waiting on the shelf.

Then there are those who say we can just engineer rather than behave our way out of climate-change turbocharged disasters like floods or fire. It’s like a doctor who tells a patient it’s OK to keep on smoking and eating poorly because we can always do a major heart operation on them some time.

My job as a doctor requires a sensible, expert and nuanced approach to get things right. If you want to see this in politics, if you want change this federal election, you have to vote for it.

Dr Luke Robinson, Greens candidate for Page.

To find out more about me or support my campaign, go to Facebook or my Website. To find out more about our policies, go here.

Authorised by A. Croft for The Greens NSW. 19/1 Hordern Place, Camperdown NSW 2050

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