The promise of billions in Federal funding to reduce future flood heights by up to a metre is shaping as the next major political battle in the Northern Rivers.

The Greens have fired the first shots in the campaign, bringing motions to local councils that are critical of the CSIRO’s shortlist of flood mitigation projects – a list focused largely on engineering solutions.

The first motion went to debate at last week’s meeting of Rous County Council, with Byron Shire delegate Cr Elia Hague moving an urgency motion backed by her Greens colleague, Mayor Sarah Ndiaye.

The motion called on the regional council to raise concerns about the consultation process and push for greater emphasis on “nature-based solutions.”

It urged consideration of projects such as wetland restoration and riparian planting, instead of engineered measures like levees, retention basins and floodgates.

But delegates from Ballina, Lismore and Richmond Valley voted the proposal down 5–2, leaving Byron isolated.

The Lennox Head-based Ballina Shire Greens Councillor Kiri Dicker has since lodged an almost-identical motion, due for debate at this Thursday’s council meeting.

Cr Hague’s motion argued that the community had been asked to rank “complex flood mitigation options with minimal explanation” and that the consultation process was flawed.

It criticised the exclusion of nature-based options and raised concerns about the broader cultural, social and ecological impacts of “hard” engineering solutions.

The background to the motion noted that the Richmond River is one of the most environmentally degraded in NSW, warning that engineered works such as drains and levees have long-term impacts including blackwater events and fish kills.

Ballina Mayor and Rous Deputy Chair Sharon Cadwallader said she was disappointed by the attempt to “discredit the work of the CSIRO team” leading the $11 million Northern Rivers Resilience Initiative.

“It’s insulting to the scientists,” she said.

“This is the first time we’ve ever had proper scientific modelling of the entire catchment. After all the floods we’ve endured, finally we’re going to have real data to show what might work, what won’t, and how much water can actually be taken off the floodplain.”

Cr Cadwallader said she supported a mix of approaches.

“Nature-based solutions are already happening – $150 million has been allocated for bank stabilisation, riparian restoration and wetland projects. They’re important, but they’re not the only answer.

We also need engineering solutions that can physically hold water back and release it safely, so towns and villages aren’t repeatedly flooded.”

She pointed to proposals such as reopening Boundary Creek to allow excess floodwaters to flow to the ocean rather than through communities.

“You don’t need to be a scientist to see the benefit of that,” she said.

Cr Cadwallader also criticised what she described as external pressure on the process.

“We’ve seen campaigns driven from Sydney urging thousands of people who’ve never set foot in Lismore or Ballina to lodge objections.

“That undermines the voices of locals who’ve lived through generations of floods. It also risks derailing what is a once-in-200-years opportunity to put real mitigation measures in place.”

While acknowledging that Byron Shire was also impacted by flooding, she noted the areas hardest hit – particularly Lismore, Ballina and the Richmond Valley – could not afford delays.

Cr Cadwallader also rejected accusations the planned engineering works would be harmful to the environment.

“Of course there will be environmental studies and safeguards before anything is built.

“Nothing can proceed without that. But we can’t keep kicking this down the road while people’s lives and livelihoods remain at risk.”

The CSIRO’s modelling report is expected later this year. A final package of measures will then undergo environmental and feasibility assessments before any works can proceed.

Ballina News Daily has contacted Cr Hague for comment.