The art of climate adaptation in the Northern Rivers

LIVING Lab Northern Rivers is presenting a series of screening events across the region featuring Adaptation Stories, a collection of short films capturing the resilience and creativity of locals in the face of a changing climate.

Living Lab engagement director Dan Etheridge said the NSW Reconstruction Authority supported the work as part of community engagement ahead of the Northern Rivers Disaster Adaptation Plan.

“It’s the first such plan to be developed in the state, and they’re going to be asking the community about adaptation and reducing risk,” Etheridge said.

“These eight films cover the seven local government areas of the Northern Rivers, with a diverse range of people reflecting on what the challenges and opportunities of adaptation mean to them.”

From farmer-led strategies in Richmond Valley, to arts-based perspectives in Lismore and youth engagement in regenerative futures in Tweed, the stories span diverse approaches to adaptation across the region.

A Q&A panel discussion will feature local leaders in open conversation with the community about resilience and adaptation.

“The 28 recommendations outlined in the flood inquiry report after 2022 note the different way of handling this as a government and as a society, and what cuts through is we need to stop just hoping it’s just not going to happen,” Etheridge said.

“Let’s do the work to identify where risk is unacceptable and work to reduce or remove that risk, and in doing so, make sure we’re holding on to what we love about where we live, and what we hold most dear.

“We need to be talking about this, not just in formal workshops and in response to the government, but exploring it together.

“It’s an ongoing conversation, and a great outcome for us is if someone starts a conversation with a friend at the pub or a family member at the breakfast table, and these little stories are our contribution to encouraging that.”

Adaptation Stories screening and Q&A community panel discussions will take place in Byron Bay on October 30, in Lismore on November 13, in Uki on November 19 and in Ballina on December 4.

For tickets, visit llnr.com.au/what-we-do/adaptation-stories