‘Australia is sinking’: Village pub and houses going under

ABOVE: The view from Tina Haag’s house in Rappville.

Susanna Freymark

Rappville always seems to cop it bad. Fire, drought, flood – and only two years ago the village lost 18 houses in the 2019 bushfires.

As the Richmond River continues to rise with predictions the levels will smash the 2017 and 1974 flood levels, the Commercial Hotel at Rappville is going under.

Water has flooded the back veranda and the first floor of the pub.

The worst part is that publicans Lisa Stewart and Colin Foyster have only recently finished renovating the historic pub.

Lisa said she has never seen the water so high in Rappville.

“The entire pub is knee deep, everything is lost,” she said.

Trying to save the furniture at the pub. Photo: Lisa Stewart

“I never thought the water would come up this high within pub. Nearby homes are underwater, water now over the train tracks.

“This is shattering. I just walked over the road to move cars to high ground. It is waist deep.”

Resident Tina Haag said she has never seen so much water in the village.

“We’ve seen a freezer, gas bottles, garbage cans, a wheelbarrow floating by,” she said.

“Our poor neighbours have water in their houses. 25 metres from our house. Australia is sinking.”

This was earlier this morning. Water still rising. Photo: Lisa Stewart

Richmond River predicted flood levels compared to the March 1974 peak of 7.01 metres.

Casino: 18.30 metres this evening

Coraki: 7.20 metres this afternoon

Bungawalbin: 7.2 metres this afternoon.

Woodburn: 5.3 metres on Tuesday, March 1

Kyogle: 18 metres today

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