Ballina Shire Council has voted down a Greens push to remove some engineering projects from the shortlist of potential flood mitigation measures, highlighting an irony that while the party regularly cites CSIRO science on climate change, it has little faith in the agency’s methodology on local flood planning.

The motion, brought by Cr Kiri Dicker, mirrored one put to Rous County Council by Byron Greens delegates last week, which was also rejected.

Greens voice concerns

Cr Dicker told councillors the $11 million CSIRO-led Northern Rivers Resilience Initiative was flawed and too narrow in focus.

“The methodology is poor. The process lacks transparency and risks repeating the mistakes of the past,” she said.

 “The Richmond River is the sickest river in New South Wales, yet this consultation considers flood mitigation in isolation from river health. That is undemocratic.”

She pointed to a pilot project upstream of Lismore, where intensive creek plantings are being trialled as part of a so-called “nature-based solutions” pilot that’s already funded and underway.

Richmond Landcare’s Louisa Rogers, addressing councillors in support, said the early results looked promising.

“Our approach is about scale – denser plantings, lots of lomandra, and soil improvement.

“Even a one percent increase in organic matter can hold 30,000 litres of water per hectare,” Ms Rogers said.

The result

Independent councillors were unmoved, declining to even engage in the debate.  When put to the vote, Cr Dicker’s motion was defeated 6–3.

The CSIRO’s revised shortlist of projects is due next month, with a final report later this year to assess which combination of measures could most effectively reduce flood heights.

Any works will still require detailed environmental and feasibility studies before construction begins.