Only about 20% of businesses have reopened and many have exhausted their savings trying to repair properties
It’s now been three months since Marcus Bebb was plucked from the roof of his submerged South Lismore home, yet he still feels stranded.
He is insured, but reluctant to start fixing the extensive damage to his house. “If the government finally decides that we are going to do a NSW Northern rivers buyback scheme, where does that leave me?” he asks. Lismore only has a population of 27,000 and affected villages like Coraki and Woodburn are smaller, but what happens when a perfect storm – floods or fire – exacerbated by climate change hits a heavily populated area in the Hawkesbury, Adelaide Hills or western Victoria? Will the emergency response and recovery be any better?