Lismore Flood Relief

Symal were engaged to design and construct temporary housing and infrastructure in four locations - Pottsville, Wollongbar, Mullumbimby, and Kingscliff - following the Lismore flood disaster.

Our scope included coordinating design, earthworks, service installations, road construction, modular building installation, structure demolition, and asbestos removal.

The project was broken into stages to ensure swift delivery of facilities to flood-affected victims. Within just two weeks, we had 27 Minderoo temporary accommodation pods operational.

Given the urgent nature of the work, our team mobilised quickly after securing the project, enlisting local subcontractors whose eagerness and commitment were invaluable.

Within a two-week timeframe, all necessary positions, plant, and machinery were filled, and the site was operational. The Symal team recognised the importance of engaging with the local community to ensure they felt part of the recovery effort. In particular, the team was mindful of the fact that at least 10 workers had been directly affected by the floods. To assist these individuals, Symal offered temporary accommodation and ensured continuity in their businesses by providing consistent work opportunities, rather than relying on cyclical work teams.

Symal collaborated with several local contractors, including Planit Consulting for design and BMT Global for flood modeling, to aid in pre-planning efforts. These local partners, alongside others, showed dedicated support by supplying necessary resources and personnel, fostering cohesive and cooperative relationships with the Symal team.

In an effort to support the local economy and aid in the broader recovery process, Symal actively sought to utilise resources from local quarries, batch plants, and materials within the Northern Rivers region. This ensured that money was injected back into the local economy, helping to support the recovery efforts and provide a tangible benefit to the local community.

Through training and resources, we helped local businesses enhance their capabilities, leading to ISO certification and opportunities to work with larger contractors in the region.