Lismore City Council announces Back Lismore campaign to bolster regional city following 2022 floods

Lismore has been the focal point of the gruelling 2022 floods recovery – but the regional city is keen to remind the state it’s about much more than disaster doom and gloom.

Lismore artist Kate Stroud, Mayor Steve Krieg, Friends of the Koala's Jen Ridolfi and screen printer Nick Cain.

Almost 20 months after floods all but obliterated northern NSW, Lismore City Council is pushing forward with a campaign to reignite excitement and pride in the regional hub.

Dubbed “Back Lismore”, Mayor Steve Krieg said the campaign is aimed at declaring Lismore as “open” and changing the narrative to ensure future success.

Businesses will be drawn to set up in the city, with “big risk, big reward” a factor in the wake of the record floods last year.

“The idea of the campaign is to introduce some local stories of people that have been through the tragedies and now the triumphs over the past nearly 20 months,” Cr Krieg said.

Lismore Mayor Steve Krieg, Friends of the Koala's Jen Ridolfi, Ned Cain and Kate Stroud.

Over the next fortnight, a toolkit will be provided to the community, including businesses and educational institutions.

“This toolkit will empower everyone to share their stories, experiences, and showcase the ways we can all Back Lismore,” Cr Krieg said.

“Across our LGA, there are thousands of people who’ve picked themselves up and dusted themselves off, or washed the mud off and have returned better and stronger.”

Cr Krieg said the floods were always on the “back of your mind”, but the city had to move forward.

Flood mitigation and housing are two of the biggest challenges the city faces.

“We’re working every single day with the NSW Reconstruction Authority to make sure we get the (Resilient Homes Program) right into the future,” Cr Krieg said.

“Our number one concern is the ratepayers and the residents of our city (still struggling) moving forward – but we can’t not celebrate the achievements of some of the amazing people that have picked themselves up.

“Some of these people lost not only their businesses and livelihoods but their homes as well.”

Cr Krieg said businesses should open now to make sure they do not miss the revival.

“Lismore is going to be the central hub for the Northern Rivers again,” Cr Krieg said.

Lismore screen printer Ned Cain.

Screen printer and musician Ned Cain said he and his partner were devastated when the floods hit about a year after they bought their South Lismore home – their first property.

“I had all my screen printing business under the house,” Mr Cain said.

“I lost that, and my home and it was very difficult.”

The pair contemplated leaving and not rebuilding, but found a sense of belonging.

“Everyone coming together was a real turning point and you could feel the energy shift into the positive,” he said.

“The campaign is running on that shift to positivity and Lismore definitely feels like a more grounded home.”

Kate Stroud has joined the Back Lismore campaign.

Fellow Lismore artist Kate Stroud ran a sign-writing, graphics and mural studio from her South Lismore home.

The floods struck and the property was destroyed, along with her studio. However, she said the loss led to new opportunities.

“I’ve ended up in a collective studio with six other female artists, which has been an integral part of my wellbeing,” she said.

“Lismore is unique in that people are here and they exist exactly as they are – and everyone embraces and loves that.”

Another person involved in the campaign is Friends of the Koala volunteer co-ordinator Jen Ridolfi, who arrived in town just before the floods.

Friends of the Koala’s Jen Ridolfi.

“I’ve been travelling around Australia for 10 years and came here to rescue koalas,” she said.

“But when I got here I realised people needed rescuing more, so I worked for Services NSW for three months and I helped people do applications, which were really horrific as the whole process was really hard.”

Ms Ridolfi said she struggled not to cry alongside the people she was helping.

She assisted as many as she could before approaching the koala group.

“Now I run a program of 240 people at Friends of the Koala and I work there five days a week,” she said.

The campaign will officially launch at the 2023 Elders Back Lismore Show on October 20.