We acknowledge the Widjabul/Wia-bal people of the Bundjalung nation as the Traditional Custodians of the Lismore area.
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Lismore waterways
Lismore sits at the meeting point of Leycester Creek and Wilsons River. These also have the tributaries of Coopers Creek and Terania Creek.
Flooding is influenced by catchment conditions, where the rain has fallen and its intensity. Major flooding can result from water rises in either the Wilsons River or Leycester Creek and consequently can be described as a Wilsons or a Leycester Creek flood. Significant flooding also occurs when both are flooded at once. Historically, most floods occur when Leycester Creek is the most dominant stream.
To help control flooding, Lismore has a series of levees and a bypass channel. However, the Lismore CBD levee has been overtopped in 2017 and 2022.
Find out more about how levees work at Levees.
What causes flooding in the Lismore region?
Lismore is one of the most flood prone urban centres in Australia and due to its location, has a long history of damaging floods.
Lismore LGA is in the Richmond River catchment. This catchment starts at the steep Border Rangers National Park near the NSW Queensland border and flows southeast for 170km to the coast at Ballina.
The main tributary of the Richmond River is the Wilsons River. This contributes around 60% of the flows in the lower river. The Richmond River has an extensive tidal zone which extends beyond Tatham on the Richmond River and Lismore on the Wilsons River.
Climate change is expected to bring heavier rainfall and higher sea levels, which will make flooding worse in the Richmond River catchment. Every flood is different. While NSW SES can provide guidance on what may occur in future floods, it's important to remember that predictions are not guarantees.
Watch this video to find out more about how floods move through the Richmond River catchment.
Lismore communities
The Lismore LGA includes the towns of Lismore, Nimbin, Jiggi and The Channon.
To find Community Resilience Networks in Lismore region, and learn more about how these communities are responding to floods, email Lismore City Council at council@lismore.nsw.gov.au
Lismore CBD
Since 1850 there have been approximately 155 flood events, ranging from low level nuisance rises to very disruptive and destructive events. The 2022 flood peaked at 14.37m and is believed to be the highest flood on record in Lismore causing catastrophic damage across the city.
A levee was built in 2005 to protect the Lismore CBD from minor and moderate riverine flooding. However, the CBD levee has been overtopped three times since construction. Most notably during the catastrophic February 2022 flood which inundated home and businesses and cut critical evacuation routes. Less severe floods between 10.6m and 10.8m have also caused overtopping.
Flooding in the CBD and Basin area can occur before the levee overtops. Intense local rainfall can cause basin flooding, isolating parts of the CBD by cutting roads like Dawson Street and flooding car parks.
Image description: Flooding on Dawson Street, Lismore CBD 2017. (Photo: Alex Clarke)
Lismore East
East Lismore and Girards Hill are two suburbs that have been impacted by many of Lismore’s floods. The lower areas of both suburbs, including the parks and sporting fields, are prone to both creek and river flooding. Local runoff from heavy rain can also affect the area.
The February 2022 flood reached a record 14.37m on the Lismore Rowing Club gauge and caused severe damage across the city. Floodwater entered streets, homes, and sporting facilities in the low-lying areas, causing major disruption. Many streets and community facilities went under water, and some houses had water above floor level.
Key local roads, including Wyrallah Road and Military Road, can go under early, cutting off parts of the suburb and blocking access to the CBD. Other big floods in 1954 (12.27m), 1974 (12.15m), and 2017 (11.59m) also caused widespread impacts. Flood impacts in East Lismore and Girards Hill depend on their location. Low areas near the Wilsons River and Browns Creek flood often, while homes on higher ground are usually safer.
People living in East Lismore should stay alert for both riverine flooding and local runoff from heavy rain. Homes in low areas should check which river heights affect their street, and those on higher ground should be prepared for isolation if Wyrallah Road, Military Road, or other routes to the CBD are flooded.
Image description: Floodwaters in 2022 almost up to the roof of Wyrallah Road Shopping Centre in East Lismore
Lismore North
North Lismore sits on the Wilsons River floodplain, where floods have been recorded since the mid-1800s. The suburb has no levee, making it far more exposed than the CBD.
The February 2022 flood reached 14.37m, the highest on record, causing major damage across the city. Other major floods occurred in 1954 (12.27m), 1974 (12.15m), and 2017 (11.59m).
In 2022, North Lismore was deeply submerged, with entire blocks isolated or underwater. Floods covered almost all of North Lismore, cutting off residents, damaging homes and businesses and forcing large-scale evacuations. As North Lismore is one of the most flood-prone areas of the region, many locals face ongoing property damage. For this reason, being prepared and acting early is crucial.
Past events, including the record 2022 flood, showed that people need to evacuate before rivers peak. Once roads are closed, it becomes harder to leave safely because there are fewer options. Even smaller floods can cut off access roads and leave pockets of the suburb isolated.
While the CBD levee reduces flood frequency for the city centre, North Lismore still gets flooded when the river rises, making it one of the highest-risk communities in the Lismore area. Without levee protection, North Lismore is among the first suburbs to be flooded in major weather events. The suburb can be cut off early by rising water on Bridge Street, Dunoon Road, and Leycester Street.
Climate change is expected to bring heavier rainfall and rising sea levels, which will make flooding worse in North Lismore. Every flood is different. While NSW SES can provide guidance on what may occur in future floods, it's important to remember that predictions are not guarantees.
Image description: North Lismore floods 2022. (Photo: David Lowe)
Lismore South
South Lismore sits along the Wilsons River in a natural basin where water can remain for a long time after major floods, which may delay recovery.
South Lismore remains one of the most flood-affected communities in the Lismore area, experiencing most floods since the mid-1800s. The February 2022 flood reached 14.37m, the highest on record, and caused major damage.
Other major floods occurred in 1954 (12.27m), 1974 (12.15m), and 2017 (11.59m). The South Lismore levee was built in 1975 to reduce the flooding in smaller to moderate floods.
The levee provides some protection but spills over, or ‘over-tops’ in larger floods. In 2022, water rose more than three metres above the levee, flooding the suburb and cutting roads such as Casino and Union Streets, requiring large-scale evacuation.
Image description: South Lismore Flooding. (Photo: Andrew McCullough)