Ballina is the baseline of the most significant flood prevention initiative in Australian history — and now locals are being urged to step up to make sure it’s delivered.
The CSIRO has unveiled a shortlist of 15 major flood mitigation projects across the Richmond catchment, making up the most comprehensive flood engineering proposals the region has ever seen.
Among the proposed measures are flood levies for Ballina and West Ballina, including a long-standing plan to cut a new channel from the Richmond River to the ocean via Boundary Creek near Wardell, easing pressure on the lower catchment during major flood events.
If delivered, they could prevent another disaster on the scale of the 2022 flood.
For Ballina — the end point where every upstream decision ultimately converges — the stakes couldn’t be higher.
Our Future Water Northern Rivers campaigner Richard Trevan is urging residents – especially business owners, to get involved in the community consultation process.
“Some of these ideas go back to 1894 when a civil engineer by the name of McMordie put forward a series of regional solutions and there was a parliamentary inquiry,” Mr Trevan said.
“That’s triggered 131 years of technical studies and inquiries that have largely gone nowhere.
“The Boundary Creek channel proposal south of Ballina dates back even further, to the early 1890s.
“But this is the first time that we’ve had both the scientific capability and political attention to seriously test and deliver region-wide flood solutions.
“But if the community doesn’t turn up and demand action, the risk is this ends up as just another glossy report gathering dust on a shelf.
“If we don’t fix this, property values will keep dropping, insurance will remain unaffordable, businesses won’t invest, and people won’t stay. It’s that serious,” he said.
Ballina Shire Councillor and Rous County Council delegate Eva Ramsey attended a closed-door pre-briefing for local government this week and agrees it’s vital for locals to be involved.
“The CSIRO made it clear that if upstream water retention works are done well, Ballina’s levies might not even be needed,” Cr Ramsey said
“But it all depends on which projects are selected and delivered, and that’s why it’s so important people turn up and have their say.”
Community consultation begins
The first in-person forums start next week, with Ballina’s session scheduled for next Tuesday August 6.
Locals can ask questions, view technical designs, and give feedback directly to the CSIRO team.
Mr Trevan says local business owners who are often the most impacted by floods must make the effort to be seen and heard.
“Business people can’t rely on someone else doing it.
“If you’ve got skin in the game, you need to turn up, even if it’s just for 30 minutes.
“This is about your future ability to get finance, sell property, and run a viable business.”
The consultation is being led by the National Emergency Management Agency in partnership with the CSIRO, which will spend the next year simulating and evaluating these 15 projects, which were finalised following the first round of consultations that took place in late 2022.
The CSIRO says this list will be refined and other projects may be added at the conclusion of next week’s community engagement sessions, before final recommendations are made to government.
The Current shortlist:
- Upstream water retention/diversion near Kyogle
- Kyogle CBD partial ring levee (completed)
- Casino CBD levee
- Lowering Bruxner Highway for flood flow
- Floodwater diversion between Casino and Coraki
- Water retention in the Wilsons River catchment
- Water retention in the Terrania Creek catchment
- Water retention in the Leycester Creek catchment
- Leycester Creek bypass around South Lismore
- Lismore CBD levee upgrade
- South Lismore levee upgrade
- Tuckean Swamp bypass and Bagotville barrage upgrade
- Opening Boundary Creek to the Pacific Ocean
- Ballina levee construction (location to be confirmed)
- West Ballina culverts and levee construction
Public forums begin:
- Lismore – Monday 5 August
- Ballina – Tuesday 6 August
- Woodburn – Wednesday 7 August
- Kyogle – Friday 9 August
📍 Bookings & details: Eventbrite – National Emergency Management Agency
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