Lismore small businesses are facing a dire situation as they have received no communication from either the state or federal government regarding financial assistance following the devastation of Tropical Cyclone Alfred. This cyclone ripped through the Northern Rivers region, particularly impacting the Tweed and Coffs Harbour local government areas (LGAs), just two weeks ago.
Most significantly, this disaster has compounded the ongoing struggles for businesses in Lismore, many of which are still unable to recover fully from the catastrophic flooding that occurred back in February 2022. These cumulatively devastating events have left numerous commercial entities grappling with mounting debts, including loans for reopening after the flood, alongside obligations to the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) that are accruing interest due to a lack of disaster clauses within ATO’s legislation.
Scott Tanner, the Flood Recovery Coordinator with the New South Wales Reconstruction Authority (NSWRA), emphasized the situation during his recent statements, insisting the Northern Rivers region is still “Open for Business” and urging visitors to contribute financially during the upcoming Easter holidays. He recognized the challenges faced by local small business owners, stating, “I was speaking to a small business owner the other day in the CBD of Lismore, and for a five-day shutdown, it cost him $40,000, and he can't afford that.”
Last week, several key business owners managed to meet privately with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, addressing the pressing need for financial support to help sustain businesses through this challenging period.
Michael Ackrell, President of Business Lismore, reported on the circumstances surrounding industrial businesses in South Lismore, which were afforded adequate notice to relocate their assets to higher ground before Cyclone Alfred struck, a luxury not provided during the floods. Ackrell noted, “Everyone else was back in business very, very quickly,” showcasing a level of resilience that many retail businesses could not replicate due to their inability to recover lost trading days. “For the majority of people in South Lismore, it would've been the same because if you are an electrician and you had clients booked for Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and you couldn't go, you would just reschedule that.”
Meanwhile, Felicity Hyde, Secretary of Business Lismore and owner of Scoops and Candy, shed light on the psychological toll that these repeated disasters have taken on local business owners. “I think a lot of people have been stressed from packing up for the cyclone and the unknowns of the cyclone,” she admitted. Hyde indicated that many businesses took extra time to regroup and refurbish before reopening, reflecting a need for mental health consideration amid the pressures of recovery.
Not all businesses, however, received equal support in their recovery attempts. Some enterprises find themselves ineligible for financial assistance due to their operational structure, as Hyde pointed out, “I do know that there was a business in South Lismore that is ineligible for the funding because they are a company instead of a sole trader or partnership.”
As criticism of the government’s handling of the disaster response grows louder, calls for broader financial aid for small businesses swarm the discussion. Ackrell highlighted concerns among small business owners: “They said to me that we need money to try and cover some of the revenue shortfall.” The stark reality is underscored by the financial strains that many face, with potential losses from food stock running into the thousands if not adequately managed before the storm.
On another front, the community in Lismore is witnessing the emergence of a more pressing and contentious issue—the housing crisis. On March 15, 2025, a group of vigilantes, incited by local right-wing politicians and NSW Premier Chris Minns, violently confronted occupants of several vacant houses on Pine Street. These buildings have been unoccupied since the extensive flooding in 2022.
Andrew George, from the activist group Reclaim Our Recovery (ROR), explained the motivation behind the occupy movement, saying that the crisis surrounding homelessness has forced individuals from all over to seek alternative accommodations. The occupied homes are part of 700 properties previously acquired buy the NSW Reconstruction Authority after the last flood, with a goal to remove vulnerable households from flood-prone areas.
While these residents occupy homes awaiting relocation and rehabilitation, they have been labeled pejoratively by local right-wing factions, with claims that they are “outsiders” abusing social equity. Locals like George assert, however, that the house occupiers' intentions are rooted in community welfare rather than freeloading, arguing for their slogan: “Occupation until relocation.”
As tensions mounted, Premier Chris Minns labeled the demolition of these houses as an urgent necessity, further fueling division within the community. He suggested that these trespassers were endangering lives, an assertion countered by residents who maintain that no unsafe circumstances existed at the occupied sites before the government advised evacuation. Sue Higginson, a member of the NSW Greens, articulated frustration toward the government’s response: “Premier Chris Minns has chosen to punch down on my community, on the frontline of the climate crisis.”
With the community grappling with precarious recovery situations and the need for stable housing solutions, George remained adamant that action must be taken to protect the occupied houses. He called for defensive community action in response to any looming demolitions, advocating for strategies such as relocating the houses instead of tearing them down.
The complexities surrounding economic and housing revival in Lismore reflect broader social issues exacerbated by disaster trauma and bureaucratic inefficiencies. As community members rally for assistance and support, it remains clear that continuous collaboration between local entrepreneurs, government entities, and advocacy groups will be essential to foster recovery and sustainability in the wake of such devastating events.
