Community on the brink: Climate-driven disasters leave little time for Mid North Coast to recover

Living on the Mid North Coast increasingly feels like preparing for back-to-back devastating weather events. From wide-spread fires, to floods, to drought, the region and its community has become accustomed to the rituals of clean up and repair that follows.

But are these severe weather events becoming more frequent and more destructive? 

The Climate Council warned last week these incidents can no longer be considered “natural” disasters  – they are occurring with increasing frequency and ferocity, fuelled by the consequences of pollution from coal, oil and gas that are heating the climate.

On Monday, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese echoed the statement, saying that while every weather event can't be put down to climate change, floods and droughts in Australia are becoming “more frequent and more intense.”

Looking at the Mid North Coast, many had barely – if at all – recovered from the impacts of tropical cyclone Alfred in March, before being hit with the recent record-breaking floods. 

The Climate Council and the Australian Prime Minister say preparation for more destructive disasters in the future is needed.

How climate change is influencing the intensity of floods

There are at least three ways that climate change is influencing the intensity of these floods: more water in the atmosphere leading to more heavy downpours; a hotter climate bringing more energy for storms; and a near-stationary high pressure system in the Tasman Sea resulting in multi-day extreme rainfall.

As the climate heats up globally, the atmosphere holds more moisture, causing extreme downpours to become more common. The total amount of water vapour in the atmosphere reached a record value in 2024. 

Since July 2024, sea surface temperatures in Australia have been the warmest or second warmest on record. With this, there is a rise in energy available to power storms.

Communities are having to endure the impacts of floods – property damage, destruction of crops and livestock, loss of life – and are facing successive disasters with little time in between to recover.

The impact close to home

Over the past week, five people have lost their lives during the recent record-breaking floods that have covered everywhere from Taree to Coffs Harbour on the Mid North Coast.

NSW SES has reported more than 50,000 people have been impacted by the disaster and early estimates indicate at least 10,000 properties may have been damaged. 

Many business and home owners do not have flood insurance – it is either not an option or not affordable.

On Monday, short-term payments were made available for those who have lost income as a direct result of the floods in the Kempsey, Port Macquarie-Hastings, MidCoast and Dungog LGAs.

About 32,000 residents on the Mid North Coast remain isolated due to the flood waters, including South West Rocks, Crescent Head, Croki and Moto, among others.

To date, 781 flood rescues have taken place during the event and an estimated 1,200 businesses and homes remain without power across the Mid North Coast.

Australian Prime Minister on the impact and cost of climate change

Today, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the impact and cost of climate change needs to be considered.

“There's been communities that have been uprooted,” he said. “For some of them, it's not the first time, and we're reminded as well of the need to look at the impact and cost of climate change.”

The Prime Minister also acknowledged the increase in regularity and impact of weather events, stating climate change is a long term challenge.

“Whilst Australia has always had extreme weather events, the science told us that they would be more frequent and they would be more intense. And that's precisely what, tragically, is playing out.”

Albanese said the responsibility of dealing with the challenge of climate change has to be done on a global scale.

“People who question the science need to look out their window…Australia is particularly vulnerable, and the science told us that that was the case, which is why we have a responsibility, in my view, not just to take action domestically, but to be a part of global action as well.”

The Mid North Coaster has contacted Nationals MPs Pat Conaghan and Kevin Hogan for comment and will update this story with responses.