Cabbage Tree Island is located in the Richmond River, approximately 20km south of Ballina, in northern New South Wales. The island is part of the Bundjalung Nation and the community who call the island home have a deep connection to the land. 

Cabbage Tree Island was severely impacted by a flood in 2022, forcing the entire community to evacuate and move into a purpose-built temporary emergency pod-village in nearby Wardell. The flood was the largest in recorded history in most of the Richmond River catchment.  Homes and other buildings across the island were extensively damaged.

A complex decision-making process then followed about whether to return or relocate the displaced Aboriginal community of 220 people.

Water Technology was engaged by Aboriginal Affairs NSW as an independent consultant to provide a transparent and holistic assessment of existing reports and other data to provide clarity for future options.

Our team contributed to a detailed place-based approach that incorporated cultural knowledge with western flood risk management and emergency management.

Our multi-disciplinary team delivered rapid assessments on the key aspects including flood risk assessment, flood evacuation planning, warning systems, climate risk evaluation, insurance, flood mitigation options and land use planning implications.

In October 2024, Jali Local Aboriginal Land Council (who manage the island) decided to return the community to Cabbage Tree Island with the Water Technology report used as part of its decision making process.