In Lismore, New South Wales, new flood pumps are replacing old stormwater removal units previously powered by tractors. The two new submersible electric pumps will have a combined capacity of 1000 litres per second, increasing pumping capability and reliability by 66%.
The new remotely operated pumps form part of a $29.8 million modernisation of Lismore’s flood pump station network, which falls under the Northern Rivers Recovery and Resilience Program (NRRRP).
The damage from recent floods that affected the Lismore community.
The NRRRP is a funding initiative that formed the first stage of the Northern Rivers Resilience Initiative (NRRI). It provides $150 million dollars to the New South Wales (NSW) Government to deliver flood mitigation and resilience projects following the devastating 2022 flood event.
This funding is administered by the NSW Reconstruction Authority, with the Lismore City Council delivering the project.
Lismore's flood pump stations play a vital role in the city’s flood mitigation system. They remove stormwater and localised flooding from within the levee walls and pump it into the Wilsons River.
However, intense rainfall events have overwhelmed the ageing network. This leads to localised flooding in the CBD. Vulnerabilities in electrical systems, exposure to flood debris and reliance on manual operation further limited performance.
The Magellan Street flood pump station previously required a tractor to be driven into position to operate the pumps manually. The tractor-driven pump removes around 600 litres of localised floodwater per second.
As part of the project, the two new submersible electric pumps will have a combined capacity of 1000 litres per second. This will significantly increase pumping capability and reliability.
According to Federal Minister for Emergency Management, Kristy McBain, “Lismore community members will benefit from this greatly. Whether you’re a resident or an emergency worker, this pump ensures that we are in a better position to recover from future disasters.”
New flood pumps are replacing old stormwater removal units previously powered by tractors.
Further works will follow at the Browns Creek flood pump station, the centrepiece of the network overhaul. It was originally built to extract stormwater from the low-lying Lismore basin into the Wilsons River. The station will undergo essential modernisation since it was first built in the 1960s. This is including the installation of new, more powerful pumps.
A rollout of a new 10-kilometre fibreoptic network last year will allow remote activation and monitoring of the upgraded flood pumps during future weather events.
Together, these upgrades will strengthen Lismore’s flood defences and improve the city’s ability to manage intense rainfall when river levels are high.
Visit the NRRRP page to learn more.
