A safe haven and partner during Northern Rivers floods
As the two-year anniversary of the Northern Rivers’ flood disaster approaches, the community is still wrestling with the scale of the recovery effort. In major regional centres such as Lismore, businesses and schools remain boarded up. People await safe, long-term housing.
First published at Shaping Australia Awards by Southern Cross University
As the two-year anniversary of the Northern Rivers’ flood disaster approaches, the community is still wrestling with the scale of the recovery effort. In major regional centres such as Lismore, businesses and schools remain boarded up. People await safe, long-term housing.
The Northern Rivers sits on the nation’s mostactive flood plain, but the events of early 2022 were extreme – exceeding theprior historic peak by almost three metres. One in four Lismore residents –about 12,000 people – were displaced.
In the early hours of the event, Southern CrossUniversity recognised it had both the capacity – and a heartfelt responsibility– to respond to the crisis and to support critical regional systems, includingeducation and emergency services. Campus buildings became shelters, pop-upsupermarkets and distribution centres. As the year unfolded, emergency andcommunity services, as well as several schools, found a home. Many remain.
The scale of the crisis and experience of rebuilding provoked a profound reflection in the university community about its role. Since its inception almost 30 years ago, Southern Cross University has been a proud part of the fabric of its communities. Through 2022 and 2023, it also has become full partner to government and the community in planning a vital future for Northern Rivers, building to new levels of regional resilience, adaptation and renewal.
