Supporting flood-affected communities in the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales - $150 million commitment to flood mitigation projects

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) is supporting the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales to drive long-term resilience by delivering priority community supported projects that mitigate the impact of disasters on communities and economies in the region, and ensure that they are in a better position to recover from future disasters.

The Northern Rivers Recovery and Resilience Program (NRRRP) provides $150 million dollars to the New South Wales (NSW) Government to deliver flood mitigation and resilience projects across seven local government areas (LGAs) impacted by the devastating February – March 2022 flood event.

Projects being delivered under the NRRRP were informed through Phase 1 of the Northern Rivers Resilience Initiative (NRRI).

On 23 February 2023, the Minister for Emergency Management announced 16 projects, totalling $50 million under Tranche 1 of the NRRRP The 16 projects comprise 41 proposals identified through Phase 1 of the NRRI.

On 28 July 2023 the Minister announced a further 20 projects, with a funding envelope of $100 million under Tranche 2 projects of the NRRRP.

• 18 of these projects are progressing to delivery.
• Two of these projects are progressing to the design and planning stage.

Many of the projects align with recommendations from the NSW Flood Inquiry, and with local floodplain risk mitigation programs. All seven LGAs of the Northern Rivers region – Ballina, Byron, Clarence Valley, Kyogle, Lismore, Richmond Valley and Tweed – will benefit. 

Successful applicants and projects

Projects funded under the Northern Rivers Recovery and Resilience Program have been grouped into 4 Streams.

Stream 1 – Increasing flood risk awareness

Project description	LGA	Tranche	Australian Government Funding Total
Regional and local floor level surveys			$5,150,000
Addressing data gaps in Floor Level recording	Richmond Valley	Tranche 2
A regional program to complete floor level surveys for building across all LGAs to input into flood risk assessments.	Regional (all 7 LGAs)	Tranche 1
Evacuation road infrastructure
A regional assessment of evacuation routes, their capacity and options for infrastructure upgrades across all LGAs.	Regional (all 7 LGAs)	Tranche 1
Detailed evacuation procedures	Tweed	Tranche 2
Investigate flood free access to Junction Hill (Grafton) via The Summerland Way	Clarence Valley	Tranche 2
Investigate Options for South Golden Beach Flood Gate Upgrades	Byron	Tranche 2
Community flood risk awareness
A regional program to increase community flood risk awareness partnering with all LGAs, including flood risk information campaigns and flood warning signs.	Regional (all 7 LGAs)	Tranche 1

Stream 2 – Nature Based Solutions

Project description	LGA	Tranche	Australian Government Funding Total
Nature Based Solutions
Public Proposal -  Riparian revegetation and reforestation for flood resilience in the Clarence, Richmond, Tweed and Brunswick Catchments	Regional (all 7 LGAs)	Tranche 2	$11,850,000
Public Proposal - Heal the Rivers Flood Recovery and Landscape Restoration Proposal	Regional (all 7 LGAs)	Tranche 2
Develop agricultural level guidance	Ballina Shire	Tranche 2

Stream 3 – Flood risk management infrastructure

Project description	LGA	Tranche	Australian Government Funding Total
Upgrades and maintenance of existing flood management infrastructure			$127,820,000
Combined upgrades to pumps and pump stations (7 projects)	Lismore	Tranche 1
SGB Flood Pump Generator to provide protection from power failures	Byron	Tranche 1
Install box culverts through levee near North Street (Grafton) to improve local drainage prior to floodgates closing	Clarence Valley	Tranche 1
New Pump System within East Murwillumbah Levee to assist with drainage	Tweed	Tranche 1
Electrify/install SCADA to replace tractor pump to remove stormwater from the CBD	Lismore	Tranche 1
Fibre connect all flood pump stations	Lismore	Tranche 1
New low flow pump Lavender Creek and CBD	Tweed	Tranche 1
Mechanical trash racks at all 3 major pump station inlets to reduce the risk of rubbish and debris causing damage to pumps	Lismore	Tranche 1
Revitalise South and East Lismore Town Drains	Lismore	Tranche 2
Public Proposal - Application for Emergency Funding re Lismore Flood Mitigation, Northern Rivers Resilience Initiative (CSIRO Project Group).	Lismore	Tranche 2
Improve condition of Coraki and Woodburn town drains	Richmond Valley	Tranche 2
New pump system behind Dorothy Street	Tweed	Tranche 2
Flood Pumps Maclean and Grafton	Clarence Valley	Tranche 2
Upgrade Coogera Circuit Detention	Byron	Tranche 2
Road and Bridge Raisings
Dairy Flat road improvements for better access during and post floods	Richmond Valley	Tranche 1
Thearles Canal culvert upgrade to improve drainage	Richmond Valley	Tranche 1
Alma St modification	Tweed	Tranche 2
Tatham Bridge Raising	Richmond Valley	Tranche 2
Evacuation Route Raising*	Ballina Shire	Tranche 2
Flood management infrastructure
Earthworks across Lot 4 on Quarry Rd to preserve the South Murwillumbah Condong Flowpath	Tweed	Tranche 1
Additional Wharf St Pump Capacity	Tweed	Tranche 1
Preferred Byron Drainage Strategy Construction*	Byron	Tranche 2
Construct stock mounds	Clarence Valley	Tranche 2
Review internal drainage strategy – Maclean	Clarence Valley	Tranche 2
Widen Browns Creek flood channel, culvert and re-route services currently restricting flow at Brewster Street	Lismore	Tranche 2
* Project progressing to design and planning stage prior to construction readiness

Stream 4 – Regional and local economic adaptation

Project description	LGA	Tranche	Australian Government Funding Total
Community led resilience and regional/local economic adaptation
Community-led resilience initiatives such as the Community-led Resilience Teams (CRTs) program. This is to ensure that community-led resilience efforts are supported across all LGAs. CRTs provide a formal structure, direction and guidance which complement community resources, people, and capacity. CRTs enable the collective community voice to be channelled externally benefiting emergency management organisations such as SES, RFS, and Councils.	Regional (all 7 LGAs)	Tranche 1	$3,000,000

Frequently asked questions

Why are two of the Tranche 2 projects undergoing further design and planning?

There are two larger projects that require further technical investigations and feasibility works given their size and the amount of money committed to funding them. NEMA are working closely with the NSW Government and the local Councils who put forward these proposals to determine their feasibility. These sites have complex interfaces such as phone/data, power, water, sewer, and storm-water infrastructure managed by private land holders, First Nations (Bundjalung) communities and their representative organisations, and utility service providers.

What happens to the funding committed for the two projects undergoing ‘further design and planning’ if they are not successful?

Should the projects not proceed to construction readiness, other projects put forward by the community through the Northern Rivers Recovery and Resilience Program will be considered.

How were funded projects selected?

Under Phase 1 of the Northern Rivers Resilience Initiative, the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) worked with local councils, community groups and other key stakeholders in the region to identify existing project proposals for improving the region’s flood resilience.

CSIRO and Alluvium ranked these projects according to specific criteria and scientific analysis and provided a report to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) detailing prioritised projects.

The selection of Tranche 2 projects was informed by projects identified in CSIRO’s ‘Rapid Prioritisation for Flood Resilience in the Northern Rivers region’ report released earlier this year.

Why were not all projects from the CSIRO Report funded?

The total funding for the Northern Rivers Recovery and Resilience Program has been committed. We now shift our focus to successfully delivering Tranche 1 and Tranche 2 projects.

We want to thank everyone who submitted their proposals through this program, and recognise their compassion and initiative to protect communities by taking steps to reduce the impact of future disasters. While not every project in the CSIRO Report has been funded from this $150 million allocation, it is a valuable guide for governments of all levels when making funding decisions for the region.

The Government is continuing support for the Northern Rivers region in partnership with the NSW Government and local councils through other programs like the Resilient Homes Fund, the Disaster Ready Fund, and through Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements programs.