Lismore’s iconic Norco ice cream factory makes a resilient comeback post-floods
A beloved Aussie ice cream factory is back in business after a $100 million repair build, following the devastating floods that swept the region in 2022.
Lismore’s Norco ice cream factory, a staple of the North Coast dairy industry, has emerged stronger and sweeter than ever after a $100 million rebuild, following the devastating floods that swept the region in 2022.
The factory, which had been making ice cream since the 1950s, faced unprecedented challenges last year when the Wilsons River rose to 14.4 metres, inundating the premises and causing extensive damage.
Michael Hampson, Norco’s chief executive, reflected on the daunting task ahead in the aftermath of the catastrophic floods, which wiped out an entire town.
“I thought, ‘This is going to be one hell of a clean-up’,” he told the Sydney Morning Herald.
The company was determined to bounce back, but realised early on that the financial costs were too steep to handle alone.
“The financial cost was likely going to be too much for us to bear without any government assistance,” Mr Hampson said.
The state and federal governments stepped in, contributing $34.7 million towards the rebuild under a joint grant scheme, with Norco later confirming the use of an additional $11 million grant for the project.
The 18-month recovery process cost $100 million in total.
“This facility wouldn’t be where it is today without the generous help of the Australian government,” Mr Hampson said.
The rebuild has not only restored the factory but has also fortified it against future disasters. Innovative solutions include the construction of two large “submarine rooms” with heavy steel doors and elevating the most valuable machinery above the 15-metre flood mark.
These measures are a significant investment in the factory’s resilience.
“We’ll still be down for a little while if we have a flood, a couple of weeks, but we won’t be down and out like what we experienced in February,” Mr Hampson noted.
This comeback is a major relief for the 130 workers at the factory, including 95 returning employees.
The grand reopening has garnered support from right around the country, with ice cream fans taking to social media to congratulate Norco on the impressive feat.
“Go Norco, they make them resilient in Lismore,” one person posted to Facebook, while another said, “Fanbloodytastic! Norco ice-cream is the best”.
The factory’s reopening has broader symbolic significance for Lismore, with Norco’s commitment to Lismore and its people evident in its decision to rebuild at the original location, despite the risks.
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“If we had lost Norco from the community it would have been a sign of a dying town but it is promising that there is investment here,” Mr Hampson said.
“It shows there’s a future ahead for Lismore.”
As Norco resumes production, releasing two new ice cream ranges, Mr Hampson remains optimistic about the future, stating, “We’ve been around for 128 years supporting farmers and we want it to be around for another 128 years at least.”
Originally published as Lismore’s iconic Norco ice cream factory makes a resilient comeback post-floods
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