As many of you know, Lismore has once again faced nature’s fury with the recent passing of ex Tropical Cyclone Alfred. This time, however, we’ve been somewhat fortunate reports local resident Phil Dudman.
While our neighbouring coastal friends in communities around Ballina and Byron bore the brunt of Alfred’s winds, here in Lismore, the wind damage was surprisingly minimal. Rainfall was a different story – we had lots of it; however, it was patchy, unlike the relentless downpours we’ve weathered in the past. This turned out to be a blessing; the floodwaters rose, yes, but they mercifully stayed just below ‘major flood’ levels. Our trusty levee held strong, keeping the CBD and many homes dry. Unfortunately, those beyond the levee’s protection faced the all-too-familiar drill of early inundation and evacuation.
At the time of writing, power outages are still widespread, and many residents are cautiously returning home to begin the inevitable clean-up. As always, our heartfelt gratitude goes out to the incredible SES and all their volunteers. Their swift coordinated efforts are a testament to our community’s resilience. Other voluntary groups like Resilience Lismore, born from the devastating 2022 floods, continue to be pillars of support, offering information and assistance.
For our local gardeners, the heavy rains have been a mixed bag. The last of the summer tomatoes and cucurbits have sadly turned to mush but the bananas are still (mostly) standing. But every cloud has a silver lining: the moist soil and replenished water tables are perfect for planting cool-season crops, which are set to thrive over the coming months!
