The 2022 flood was the worst on record
The February and March 2022 floods were a major natural disaster and had a catastrophic impact on Northern Rivers communities. The Bureau of Meteorology described the record-breaking and relentless deluge that flooded towns and cities in Queensland and New South Wales as one of the most extreme disasters in Australian history.
Many century-old records fell when a series of La Niña-driven, deep low-pressure systems repeatedly dumped intense rain on a sodden landscape. The highest official weekly total recorded was 1,346 mm at Uki on the Tweed River. Rosebank (Repentance Creek) received 620 mm in one day, more than 200 mm above the previous daily record.
It will take time to recover and rebuild. It is expected to take at least 5 years to repair the damage to North Coast national parks and nature reserves. In addition, many local roads have been impacted, so access to some parks may be restricted or involve significant detours due to damage and ongoing roadworks. Some parks will remain closed to the public until flood damage is assessed and repaired.