Almost five years after Australia's worst flood, Lismore remains divided
Almost five years after the 2022 flood damaged more than 3,500 buildings, Lismore is split between those rebuilding and those still without housing.
Lismore's recovery has created two cities. In one, people have found new homes and are rebuilding on higher ground, away from the floodplain where it has flooded 155 times since 1850.
In the other, families are still navigating how to move forward. Alison Norris, a single mother of three, is about to lose her temporary demountable home after nine months.
She was living in a squat last year; now she must move again. The demountable is part of a temporary refuge set up after the 2022 floods, and residents must leave by mid-December.
The NSW government has announced plans for more than 500 new homes and released extra land for flood-affected residents. The recovery offers hope to some and uncertainty to many others.
- More than 3,500
- Buildings damaged
- 155 times
- Lismore floods since 1850
- Single mother with three children
- Norris family members
- More than 500
- New homes announced
Why it mattersYears of slow recovery are pushing vulnerable families out of temporary shelter before permanent housing is ready, raising questions about disaster aid fairness.
AustraliaThe ongoing crisis in Lismore shows that major Australian disaster recovery can take years and leave people behind, a lesson as climate risks intensify for coastal towns across Australia.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 2 h ago
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