Council clears next stage of flood infrastructure work with drainage upgrades

FLOOD-resilient infrastructure work and a major drain-clearing program are set to strengthen Lismore’s CBD against future weather events.

A key part of the Browns Creek pump station upgrade involved a collaborative underground inspection with Lismore City Council, specialist contractors and NSW Police Rescue.

Local ecologist Veronica Silver also joined the team to identify microbat species roosting within the pipe, ensuring the project continues to protect Lismore’s urban ecology while improving essential infrastructure.

Findings from the inspection will guide the pump station’s final design, with construction expected to begin later this year.

Meanwhile, comprehensive CCTV inspections carried out in 2025 identified several priority stormwater sites requiring attention.

Council’s specialist contractors are now clearing these drains using high–pressure water jetting and vacuum trucks to remove tree roots, debris, and other blockages.

Each drain is re–inspected with CCTV to confirm the system is clear and flowing as intended.

The work will continue through February, with crews operating from early morning into the evening on weekdays, and on Saturdays when necessary to complete the program efficiently.

“Drainage may not be glamorous, but it’s important,” Lismore mayor Steve Krieg said.

“We’re removing blockages and obstructions that directly resulted from the 2022 floods – silt, gravel, and even the odd keyboard – to ensure our system performs the way it should.”

The program builds on ongoing maintenance across the city, including the clearing of more than 8km of open stormwater drains.

Residents and businesses affected by the work will receive advance notifications of specific dates and timings.

The project is jointly funded by the state and federal governments under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.