NSW flood inquiry: Lismore, Woodburn, Byron residents speak at public probe
Northern NSW residents have told harrowing stories of flood survival, and detailed the mammoth recovery effort that is still before them, during a fiery inquiry into the catastrophic event.
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Heartbreaking stories of flood devastation and an inadequate response have been heard during the NSW 2022 Flood Inquiry in Lismore.
The inquiry commenced on Tuesday at with a packed community meeting at the Southern Cross University auditorium, where dozens of harrowing stories were laid bare and questions of authorities posed.
The six-month independent inquiry, led by Professor Mary O‘Kane and retired NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller, will review the preparedness for, and response to, the February 28 flood event.
Professor Kane said the voices heard during the inquiry would inform the inquiry and the rebuilding of the flood-ravaged Northern Rivers.
“This is for us to hear you,” she said.
Mr Fuller said he would especially examine emergency management response and recovery.
‘Lismore doesn’t feel survivable’
One of the early questions was a cry from one Lismore youth who sent the crowd into a rousing applause.
lifelong resident Maddy Braddon said she wasn‘t directly affected by the flood but impacted by the “collective grief” of the town she loved.
She said that heartbreak was caused by “calculated government decisions” to fund fossil fuel projects and asked for legitimate change.
“I‘m really concerned as a young person about what the government’s doing because Lismore doesn’t feel survivable to me into the future,” she said.
“I’m shaking because it’s heartbreaking.”
Ms Braddon said the amazing community organisations had been stretched beyond capacity to cope with these flood disasters.
“What we need is federal and state political leadership to fund climate adaptation, to continue community consultation and engagement about how we can live here now and into the future,” she said.
“Our systems and our resources are not built for the climate crisis.
“As someone who loves Lismore deeply and wants to live here into the future I’m asking for leadership.”
‘Go sh*t yourself’: Harrowing questions over disabled response
Another Lismore resident detailed her heartbreaking journey as a person living with a disability in the floods.
Helen Coyle was visiting Byron Bay to see a movie when she was stranded in Ballina by the flooded Bruxner Highway.
She said she approached the Ballina Hospital for help as she had “no money and nowhere to go” only to be told “it was (her) fault she was in that situation”.
“(I was told) If I had money to go to a movie I had money for accommodation,” she told the crowd.
“It was one of the most harrowing experiences of my life.”
Ms Coyle, who suffers from a complex tremor, was asking for regional hospitals to put in place better crisis support.
“I don’t want people to go through what I was put through as someone being prepared to throw me back out into the rain,” she said.
She further questioned why disabled toilets had not been set up in Lismore.
“If you’re a person with a disability we’ve been told to go sh*t yourself,” Ms Coyle said.
“Nothing has been provided for us and God help you if you’re on the streets because you have nowhere to go and we deserve basic dignity and we’ve seem to be forgotten about.”
‘We were alone’: Other communities forgotten
Bungawalbin residentMark O’Toole said he had been conducting boat rescues in the area and manning a community relief effort for five-and-a-half weeks.
“During that whole process, we were alone,” he said.
“No one is helping.”
Mr O’Toole said he didn’t know anyone who had been approved for a grant as he asked for the process to be expedited.
“We all got the three $1000 things and basically that’s about it,” he said.
“That needs to be sped up, people need help now.
“Not three months, six months down the track we all need help now.”
Across the North Coast, the room heard the less publicised horror stories from Byron Shire down to Richmond Valley.
South Golden Beach resident Francesca told of residents living in “third world conditions”in tents or mouldy homes.
Megan, a resident from the hills of Lismore, said upstream locals had known hours before the water hit the CBD that it was going to be catastrophic, but that calls were disregarded.
Woodburn farmer Tony said the Woolgoolga to Ballina Pacific Highway needed to be investigated – a cry echoed by many.
Residents raise solutions and hope for “real change’
While some detailed their distress and personal loss – others floated solutions.
Options included improving flood warnings and communication, river dredging, better training for clean up volunteers and ADF, subsidised flood insurance and more.
State MP Janelle Saffin, who was in attendance, said real change had to be created from the resolution of this inquiry.
“We’ve had inquiries before, we’ve had recommendations I’ve yet to see them implemented,” she said.
“This one … I said I want a commitment that the recommendations are accepted before you see them.”
She also welcomed the inquiry arriving so soon after the tragedy.
“We have to give people hope out of heartbreak that there is going to be a difference,” she said.
The inquiry report will be presented to Premier Dominic Perrottet on September 30.
The inquiry will travel to the Tweed Shire on Wednesday, with submissions opening at Tumbulgum Hall from 9.30am.
Online submissions can also be made here
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