Northern Rivers floods: Craig Leggat SC approached to take on class-action flood lawsuit

A lawyer that fought the Adani Carmichael Coal Mine has been approached to take on the class-action lawsuit established by residents of the flood-ravaged Northern Rivers. See who it is.

A leading environmental barrister who fought for Indigenous elders against ‘Adani Group’ opening the Carmichael coal mine has been approached for another major lawsuit, this time in the flood-ravaged Northern Rivers.

Craig Leggat, SC, has been approached by insolvency expert Nick Crouch to take on the federal and state governments in support of flooded communities in the Northern Rivers.

Residents of Woodburn, Coraki, Broadwater and other Richmond River communities have joined together to sue the state and federal government, claiming their concerns were “ignored” before the completion of the $5 billion Woolgoolga to Ballina M1 upgrade.

They say the upgrade made towns adjacent to the river “like a dam” as the highway pooled flood water into the town causing significant damage during the February 28 floods.

On April 13, community activists Lyndall Murray and Vanessa Allport courted the support of residents to sign up for a class-action lawsuit which received almost 1000 signatures in two weeks.

Mr Leggat’s office confirmed to the Northern Star that Crouch Amirbeaggi had “approached” Mr Leggat to consider representing the people of the Richmond River.

He is yet to make a formal decision but would be a coup for residents as they seek answers on “compensation” and “changes” after the floods.

Ms Allport says if a lawyer like Mr Leggat joins the lawsuit it would be a justification for their outrage.

“We would be almost guaranteed success,” she said.

“I don’t think he would take it if there wasn’t a degree of success and if we were able to access photos to show just how much the highway changed things then I think we are justified.

Ms Allport is going through the arduous wait for soil testing to see if her Woodburn home can be raised.

It is expected to cost her tens of thousands of dollars as the financial pain from the floods continues to sting the people of Woodburn.

Craig Leggat SC worked with Senior spokesman and cultural leader of the Wangan and Jagalingou Family Council Adrian Burragubba (pictured) during the Adani Coal Mine lawsuit Picture: Glenn Hunt.

Mr Leggat SC represented Adrian Burragubba during the Adani Carmichael coal mine fiasco which saw him expose key shortfalls in the Indian mining giants proposal for the project.

The lawyer found that Adani Group had withheld economic projections from their own expert at the Native Title Tribunal.

He said the costings and economic impact of the mine “over-estimated” the claim that the mine would create 4000 jobs when Adani’s projections showed it would actually create about 400.