The former head of Southern Cross University's National Centre for Flood Research believes there are steps Lismore can take to make it less susceptible to flooding if there is enough political will and capital to back bold decision making.
It may involve moving residents of some low lying parts of Lismore to housing high and dry.
It may mean shifting the CBD to slightly higher ground.
It may mean turning the basin in the middle of the city into a central park.
It may mean building six-storey buildings on the edge of the city.
Dr Caroline Sullivan is the former head of SCU's flood research centre, which was shut down in 2020.
"Obviously there are a very complex set of questions and answers," she said.
"The immediate need for people in their current circumstances is for recovery and the assistance of agencies like Services Australia and NGOs like the Red Cross.
"But in the medium to longer-term we need a serious approach to what we do in the future.
"If there are radical suggestions, then OK let's accept that as a basis for things."
She said Mr Hogan's comments showed he misunderstood residents' calls for more consideration to be taken of nature based solutions.
"I believe that this is very misleading for the electorate, and it is incredible that the government is putting up $75 million for responses based on a CSIRO modelling study, with to date little reference to the local community and their needs and views," she said.
"it's incredible to think $70m is going to be spent on the CSIRO study when $1m could not be found to keep the flood research centre going."
Professor Sullivan said basing decisions on modelling from the past did not take into account the impact of factors such as climate change.
I'm a media professional with over 34 years of experience in public relations and journalism, including a decade setting Lismore's news agenda as the editor of The Northern Star. I have proven track record in growing audiences and improving engagement by delivering quality local stories for and about the Lismore community.
I'm a media professional with over 34 years of experience in public relations and journalism, including a decade setting Lismore's news agenda as the editor of The Northern Star. I have proven track record in growing audiences and improving engagement by delivering quality local stories for and about the Lismore community.
