‘Worse than 2017’: Lismore faces mammoth rebuild after flood as community inundated by loss

Hardened by a history of floods, residents are getting on' with the clean-up while waiting for politicians to address climate change

• Follow our Australia news live blog for the latest updates
• Get our free news app; get our morning email briefing

Lismore vet Nick Jones can reel off the equipment he lost when his surgery was flooded with clinical precision - X-ray, X-ray processor, ultrasound, computers, telephone system, solar panel inverters - but when asked if he planned to reopen, he falters and his eyes seem to water. A second later his resolve is back, Of course, there is no question of that."

Jones, family members and friends have been on the ground cleaning the clinic building. He has owned it for 22 years. His father, also a vet, owned it for the 30 years before that.

Sign up to receive an email with the top stories from Guardian Australia every morning