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BY NICHOLAS RUPOLO
Can towns like Lismore rebuild after another mega flood?
Towns like Lismore might never be able to build back to the same level because climate change is making natural disasters worse and more frequent.
That’s the warning from Climate Council CEO Amanda Mckenzie, who says while many factors led to the disaster, lack of effective climate policy played a big role.
Nine hundred homes in Lismore alone have been deemed unliveable, while NSW Police confirmed close to 2000 homes across the Northern Rivers region are now uninhabitable.
Credit: Jess Rankin via Storyful
At least five people have died in the disaster while business owners are prepared to walk away as a result of being priced out of flood insurance.
Credit: Jason O'Brien
As people in Lismore begin the arduous cleanup, many are now fearful at what the future holds for the region.
Credit: Jason O'Brien
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Climate Council CEO Amanda Mckenzie
They may not be able to build back because of climate change.Lismore has had three mega floods in a decade you can’t use the phrase ‘once in a thousand year’ or ‘once in a hundred year event’ because that isn’t true.
Meteorologist Hugh McDowell said while each disaster had many causal factors, climate change had played a role in the scale of the NSW floods.
Credit: Jimmy Lyell/Fraser Walker via Storyful
Mr McDowell said studies showed there was increasing moisture in the atmosphere, producing heavier, more frequent rainfall.Parts of the Northern Rivers copped six-hourly rainfalls of up to 250mm during the disaster.  
Credit: Toby Zerna
Labor Deputy Leader Richard Marles and Senator Murray Watt have slammed the Morrison government's climate policies, saying  they will ensure disasters like Lismore happen again.
Credit: Jess Rankin via Storyful
Lismore MP Janelle Saffin, who had to swim to safety from flood waters, wants a reconstruction commission to pour resources in to the rebuild and find solutions to prevent more flood disasters. 
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JANELLE SAFFIN LISMORE MP
We need one body that can take control of what our needs are, we need a massive rebuild.We need a whole of government response.This is a humanitarian disaster.

Original URL: https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/web-stories/free/byron-shire-news/can-nsw-flood-hit-towns-rebuild-after-the-2022-floods