Northern Rivers Performing Arts (NORPA) is raising money through the Australian Cultural Fund after extensive flooding in the wake of Cyclone Debbie caused irreparable damage to most of their administration offices, box office, rehearsal and studio space, dressing rooms and green room in Lismore’s City Hall. The total damage bill is estimated to be over $300,000.

On Thursday March 30, torrential rain from ex-tropical Cyclone Debbie inundated northern NSW with the Wilson river, which runs through Lismore, breaching the town’s levee early on March 31. The waters flooded Lismore’s CBD, with flood waters and sewerage reaching depths of up to two metres in the regional theatre company’s offices.

NORPA, Lismore Flood damageNORPA’s venue hire space after the flood

“Lismore is in a flood zone and there is little insurance coverage in the region,” said NORPA’s General Manager, Patrick Healey, who estimated the damage bill to be over $300,000. “There has been no emergency relief money made available for the not-for-profit or business community,” he said.

While the second floor was largely spared, the flood destroyed NORPA’s telecommunication systems, PABX, many computers and other IT. The bulk of their venue equipment, including chairs, tables,...