Richmond Rivers High School in Lismore beyond repair after floods

A Lismore school has been deemed “unsalvageable” after the floods. See what it means for future students.

The Richmond River High School has undergone an assessment after the floods and is “unsalvageable” according to NSW department of education.

The assessment, which included several site visits revealed that all buildings except “Block A” were “beyond repair”.

The North Lismore campus is not expected to reopen in its current location due to catastrophic site damage and the ongoing risk of flood disaster, but management are committed to rebuilding the campus in a safe area.

The school has a long history of providing education to students from year seven to college since 1958 and the closure comes as many Lismore families decide to pack up and leave.

Richmond River High School engulfed during flooding.

The Northern Rivers Reconstruction Corporation will provide a final decision regarding the viability of the site in July 2022.

The corporation will also begin acting on recommendations from the independent flood inquiry.

The major damage caused by the flood has left students and staff with an uncertain future.

Year 12 school captain Connor McDougall said the news is very sad for the school’s broad community.

“The teachers have many memories there and the current generation of students are attached to the site,” Mr McDougall said.

Connor McDougall and Lily Shepard are year 12 school captains at Rivers Secondary college. McDougall said many suffered and are lacking academic motivation. Picture: supplied.

He said seeing the school in its state as a year 12 student has been “difficult” and has influenced many student’s academic performance.

“Everyone’s suffered and have lost motivation to go as well as they could in their HSC,” he said.

Mr McDougall said the current school they’ve been shafted to – Lismore High – is crowded.

“The new pop up school will amend these problems but it won’t be the same. There’s no certainty of where the new site for the school will be and I imagine that’s stressful for the years behind year 12,” he said.

Graduating year 12 – a momentous occasion – won’t be the same for these students.

“The school closure is sad for everyone, especially the teachers and students in year 12 as we will not graduate at our home.”

NSW Education Minister Sarah Mitchell with Rivers Secondary College Lismore High Campus students Odessa Smith, Julian Thompson, Danielle Bindley and Deputy Premier John Barilaro in Lismore before the school was damaged “beyond repair”.

Previous minor and major flood events at the school have caused ongoing disruption to students just like Mr McDougall. But despite its precarious location many former students praised staff and management.

Past pupil Eli Strange, 38, reminisced about his time in the school and reflected on the schools special atmosphere.

“I have heaps of memories and everyone just got along,” Mr Strange said.

“I think rebuilding the high school somewhere out of a flood prone area would be a great start,” he said.

One facebook commenter said “This is so sad. This school has a very unique culture that is very different from other schools.”

NSW Department of Education said more information surrounding the rebuild project will become available in July.

“The rebuild of the school from educational planning through to the design and delivery of the project will be undertaken in consultation with the school community along with other relevant stakeholders.”