NSW floods: Lismore Centra Tourist Park evacuees flee new threat

Motorhomes housing flood impacted residents from Lismore are being moved to higher ground amid a renewed threat of moderate to major flooding in the already sodden region.

Motorhomes housing flood impacted residents from Lismore are being moved to higher ground amid a renewed threat of moderate to major flooding in the already sodden region.

SES Public information officer Northern Rivers, Scott McLennan said Richmond Police were assisting the SES who began moving the motorhomes from Lismore Centra Tourist Park on Dawson street on Sunday.

“The rain is coming, the rain is falling,” Mr McLennan said, “If you are in low lying areas please go and stay with friends on higher ground.”

He said flash flooding is already occurring in Lismore, more is coming, and quickly.

“All the people that were affected in the last flood, please reconsider your flood plan and move,” he said.

Manager Lismore Centra Tourist Park, Carmen Thomas awaits word on when and if the 40 motorhomes in the park and its residents will be moved due to a renewed flooding threat.

Residents staying in the Dawson street caravan park said they were concerned about ‘rumours’ they will be moved. Even though some of the motorhomes had been moved, some of the residents were not informed what was happening.

Manageress of Lismore Centra Tourist Park, Carmen Thomas said she was waiting to hear from the Department of Justice and Communities on the decision to move the residents along with the motorhomes.

Residents who wished to remain anonymous said they didn’t want to be relocated at Southern Cross University amid reports that used needles had been found in public areas of the evacuation centre.

A Police spokesperson said the motorhomes were moved in response to the current weather event.

“A multi-agency operation was carried out Monday 28 March 2022, to temporarily relocate 45 motorhomes in Lismore to the Alstonville Showground.

“During the operation, Richmond Police District worked alongside the Department of Communities and Justice, the Australian Defence Force and Transport for NSW who drove the motorhomes and transported the residents by bus to their new location,” the spokesperson said.

Heavy rainfall is expected to cause moderate to major flooding in northern New South Wales into Tuesday and Wednesday.

Bureau of Meteorology meteorologist Dean Narramore said the rain could be widespread from Monday. “Unfortunately it does include our already flood affected communities from Lismore, Coraki, Ballina down to Grafton even down to Coffs Harbour, he said.

The Bureau of Meteorology has issued severe weather warnings for heavy rainfall for the Northern Rivers, Northern Tablelands, parts of the Mid North Coast in NSW as well as South East Queensland.

Mr Narramore told residents to expect conditions to change quickly.

“Things could escalate quickly on these rivers particularly with these isolated very intense falls,” he said.

“If they occur in the wrong part of the catchment we could see these rapid escalations and some the flooding on the rivers.”

SES Assistant Commissioner Sean Kearns said response crews were in position and doorknocking homes ahead of the severe weather.

“People are pretty nervous to be honest with you,” Lismore Mayor Steve Krieg told Sunrise on Monday morning.

“Four weeks of cleaning up after the record flood that we‘ve just experienced and then to get the news of the weather event that’s coming for us.

“We don’t need to go through this again.”