Understanding the Northern Rivers’ complex hydrology is essential for effective restoration. We don’t just remove water; we understand its source and its behaviour across our distinct local landscapes.
Hinterland & Riverine Flooding (Mullumbimby, Main Arm, Wilson’s Creek): The steep valleys of the caldera create rapid water runoff, funnelling it into the Brunswick River and its tributaries. The February 2022 event showed how quickly this can lead to catastrophic flash flooding, inundating large parts of Mullumbimby and isolating communities in the hinterland. Our work in these areas, informed by events like the 2022 floods, focuses on rapid response to remove silt-heavy water and address deep saturation in building materials and landslip-related water intrusion.
Coastal Plain & ICOLL Flooding (Byron Bay, Suffolk Park, Brunswick Heads): The low-lying coastal areas are vulnerable to a complex mix of factors. Intense rainfall combined with king tides or storm surges can cause the Intermittently Closed and Open Lakes and Lagoons (ICOLLs), like Tallow Creek and Belongil Creek, to back up and flood surrounding properties. This leads to prolonged inundation with brackish, contaminated water. Our response protocol for Suffolk Park and the Belongil catchment prioritizes assessing contamination levels and managing the unique drying challenges of sandy, waterlogged soil.
Coastal and Storm Surge Events (Wategos, Clarkes Beach, South Golden Beach): East Coast Lows are a regular feature, driving corrosive, salt-laden water and wind-driven rain into ocean-facing properties. This requires more than just drying; it demands specialized cleaning processes to remove salt residues that corrode fixtures, damage electronics, and compromise concrete integrity long after the water is gone. Our technicians are trained to manage these specific coastal risks.
