The Lismore business community has thrown its full support behind the landmark CSIRO Northern Rivers flood mitigation report, saying the science is now settled and governments must move quickly from research to action.

The Lismore Alliance has described the report as one of the most significant milestones in the region’s history, arguing it provides the first independent scientific evidence that flood mitigation works can significantly reduce flood levels across the Northern Rivers.

Alliance chair Simon Stahl said the findings offered hope for the region’s long-term economic future after years of uncertainty following repeated major floods.

“Four years of rigorous, independent, government-funded research has given this region what it has never had before – credible proof that flood mitigation works here,” he said.

“The Lismore Alliance stands completely behind this science.”

The report found engineered flood mitigation measures could substantially reduce flood heights across the catchment, potentially improving protection for homes, businesses and critical infrastructure.

Economic future at stake

Mr Stahl, who is CEO of the Casino Food Co-op,  said flooding remained the biggest obstacle to economic growth across the Northern Rivers.

The region generates an estimated $44.4 billion in annual economic output and supports more than 123,000 jobs, with every major flood placing businesses, employment and investment at risk.

“Flood risk is not just a community safety issue – it is the single biggest constraint on the economic future of this region,” he said.

“When businesses cannot get affordable insurance, when investors look elsewhere, when workers choose not to move here because of flood risk, the entire regional economy suffers.”

The Alliance welcomed the joint $3 million commitment by the NSW and Australian governments to begin feasibility studies flowing from the CSIRO report but warned the work must begin without delay.

“Three million dollars for a feasibility study is a start and we welcome it,” Mr Stahl said.

“But we want to be clear that the business community will be watching how quickly this moves and what comes out of it.

“We cannot afford for this to become another process that takes years and produces another document. The science is done. The clock is ticking. We need to see this move at pace.”

Compensation and engineering solutions

The Alliance also backed calls from farming communities for fair compensation if future flood mitigation works affect private land.

“We hear the concerns of landholders in the upper catchment and we take them seriously,” Mr Stahl said.

“Fair compensation for any land use impacts must be part of this process. These communities are being asked to be part of a solution that protects everyone downstream. That deserves proper recognition and proper recompense.”

The group also weighed into the debate over nature-based flood mitigation, saying environmental restoration remained important but should not replace engineered infrastructure.

“We are strong supporters of nature-based solutions and we always have been,” Mr Stahl said.

“They genuinely matter for the health of our rivers and our landscape. But we have to be honest with our community. Nature-based solutions do not lower flood heights in a major event. The CSIRO says so.

“After a $16 billion flood, our community deserves engineering solutions that actually keep the water down.”

The Alliance is urging both levels of government to move quickly into the feasibility phase, retain CSIRO expertise throughout the process and ensure the work leads to funded flood mitigation projects rather than further delays.

“The science has spoken,” Mr Stahl said.

“Our businesses, our workers and our community are counting on governments to listen.”

Photo: Lismore Business Alliance chair and Casino Food Co-op CEO Simon Stahl addresses the media in Lismore on Thursday.