‘Left out’: East Lismore anger over flood retreat snub

East Lismore and Girards Hill residents have voiced anger at a forum over being excluded from relocation options after the flooding. They have warned some may just walk away. See what the council has had to say.

East Lismore and Girards Hill residents have voiced anger over being “left out” of relocation options at a public forum on Wednesday.

Lismore council’s advocacy for State and Federal funding needed to include the other low-lying suburbs that had homes and businesses wiped out too.

East Lismore resident Crystal Lenane said the most disappointing thing from the forum for her was councils focus on advocating for State and Federal funding to offer North and South Lismore residents land swap and raising options.

“My issue is that they’re only concentrating on getting Federal funding for North and South,” Mrs Lenane said.

“There is a “maybe” in the future that they’ll protect the CBD but we have no idea what that’s going to look like or when that’s going to occur.

East Lismore resident Crystal Lenane wants the conversation to include all flood affected areas including East Lismore and Girards Hill. Picture Cath Piltz

“We need some confidence about us rebuilding or we’re just going to walk away.”

Mrs Lenane shares a common concern that many locals will leave because there is no discussion on what is happening for East Lismore and CBD residents.

“I understand that North and South are the most impacted and in terms of if we had mitigation measures that will affect those on the west,” she said.

“But at the moment they are not giving us any indication on when we will be protected on the east side of the river.”

After buying in East Lismore where her property was out of the flood zone she still spent thousands raising her house post 2017, yet the 2022 floods decimated her home.

Mrs Lenane said the issue for East Lismore and Girards Hill residents is why should they spend hundreds of thousands of dollars rebuilding their homes when they have no reassurance their homes will be protected.

“I think we all should be treated equitably,” she said.

“We should all get options to land swap.”

Dunoon resident Emma Pittaway said people need to be a part of this decision.

“If not it will create division in the community,” Ms Pittaway said.

“People will not trust the process and we’re not going to get the best possible outcome.

“It is a real imperative that council do active outreach for people who are traumatised and displaced and that don’t have the headspace to jump onto the website to fill in a simple poll.”

General Manager for Lismore Council John Walker said it was not the end of the consultation process but the beginning.

Left: Acting co-ordinator strategic planning Andy Parkes, Director partnerships, planning and engagement Eber Butron and General Manager John Walker answer questions at Lismore City councils second public forum to discuss seven key strategies on how to build back after the February flood disaster. Picture Cath Piltz

“We felt it necessary given external people will be making decisions like the Reconstruction Corporation or housing, to at least have some feedback, some understanding of the views of the people so it is the start, not the end.” Mr Walker said.

On Monday Mr Walker said there were around 1,000 homes identified for possible buyback or relocation as well as an estimated 3,500 blocks in Lismore council’s development pipeline.

When asked about a government timeline for funding Mr Walker said there were no options yet.

“The impression I get from the government is that they want to see the recommendations from the CSIRO first.”

Suitable land for relocation includes the North Lismore plateau, land near Southern Cross University and in parts of Goonellabah.