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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
National
Tamsin Rose and Christine Tondorf

‘No one could have predicted’: authorities defend Lismore flood response after evacuation order was cancelled

Acting NSW Premier Paul Toole
Acting NSW premier Paul Toole said of Lismore and Byron floods: ‘No one could have predicted some of the amounts of rainfall that we have seen land.’ Photograph: Bianca de Marchi/AAP

Emergency services have responded to criticism of the response to this week’s flooding in Lismore, Byron Bay and Ballina, with the SES acting commissioner Daniel Austin admitting some things could have been done differently “if we had a crystal ball”.

An evacuation order for the Lismore CBD was removed late on Tuesday afternoon, only to be reinstated at 3am on Wednesday after more heavy rain overnight.

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