Climate Council CEO Amanda Mckenzie’s dire warning for the Northern Rivers if policy isn’t changed

The CEO of the Climate Council and a Bureau Meteorologist have made dire predictions for the future of flood-affected towns. Here’s what they predict.

The CEO of the Climate Council Amanda Mckenzie believes towns like Lismore might never return to the same level as before because climate change is making natural disasters worse and more frequent.

She says there are many factors leading to the disastrous floods, but the lack of effective climate policy has played a major role in the severity of these floods and other natural disasters.

Climate Council CEO Amanda McKenzie says the effects of climate change will mean the Northern Rivers faces some tough questions on their rebuild Picture: AAP.

Nine hundred homes in Lismore alone have been deemed unlivable while the NSW Police have confirmed that close to 2000 homes across the Northern Rivers region are uninhabitable.

Five people have died in the disaster while business owners are prepared to walk away as a result of being priced out of flood insurance.

As people in Lismore toss out their memories and valuables onto the street, many are fearful at what the future holds for the regional city and the Northern Rivers at large.

“They may not be able to build back because of climate change,” Mrs Mckenzie said.

“Lismore has had three mega floods in a decade you can’t use the phrase ‘once in a thousand year’ or ‘once in a hundred year event’ because that isn’t true.

“The atmosphere holds seven per cent more moisture in the atmosphere than it used to which leads to more rainfall and more energy in the climate system that is fuelling intense weather events.

The Wilson River smashed flood records reaching over 14 metres last week Picture Landrover Lifeflight.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report which came out last week said climate change is intensifying weather events.

Bureau Meteorologist Hugh McDowell says while individual disasters have many factors associated with their cause, climate change has undeniably played a role in the scale of the latest disaster.

“Climate change makes these things more likely to happen,” he said.

Lismore residents have cleaned out their homes and businesses in the CBD area Picture: Getty Images.

“(The Northern Rivers) saw record breaking amounts of rainfall but with climate change and another la Nina, something like this is conceivable that it would happen again.”

Mr McDowell says the studies show there is increasing moisture in the atmosphere which is producing heavier rainfall more frequently.

During the flooding disaster, some parts of the Northern Rivers experienced six-hourly rainfalls of up to 250mm.

The federal Labor opposition including Deputy Leader Richard Marles and Senator Murray Watt touched down in Lismore on Monday to survey the damage caused by the floods.

Senator Watt, who has spent the last week with communities affected by floods in his home state, says the Morrison government’s climate policies will ensure disasters like this will happen again.

Labor Senator Murray Watt says climate change will make natural disasters worse Picture: Zak Simmonds

“Anybody who denies (climate science) is denying the piles of rubbish that line the streets of Lismore right now,” he said.

“We are one of the most disaster prone countries in the world.

“The link between climate change and increasing numbers of increasing disasters is crystal clear, the government needs to get on track.”

The recovery phase of the flood catastrophe has been largely community led with the federal government so far providing business grants of up to $75,000 and $1000 disaster payments to residents.

However the State Member for Lismore Janelle Saffin, who had to swim to safety from flood waters, says the bill to fix the problem will be astronomical and the government needs to have people’s back.

Labor MP Janelle Saffin had to swim to safety from the floods but is now calling for massive government support to rebuild Lismore.

She has called for a reconstruction commission to pour resources in to rebuild and find solutions to prevent future flood disasters.

“We need one body that can take control of what our needs are, we need a massive rebuild,” she said.

“We need a whole of government response I don’t want agency by agency.

“This is a humanitarian disaster.”