Michelle Hartnett, Flood Aftermath (PLACES 2022)

After raging floodwaters tore through Lismore, in Northern NSW, in February 2022, this was what was left behind- a trail of catastrophic destruction and devastation. You'll notice the 1974 flood levy marker on the telegraph pole in this residential street in South Lismore. That year the waters peaked at 12.15 metres. It was a record that none of us who live in and around the Lismore area thought would ever be broken. The 2017 floods were a contender, peaking at 11.59 metres. This year's floods reached 14.4 metres. This is a glimpse of the incomprehensible aftermath. Thousands of homes destroyed. Hundreds of people left with nothing. Their belongings shredded, broken and plastered with mud, lying amongst the piles of rubbish and debris in every street.

Images have been resized for web display, which may cause some loss of image quality. Note: Original high-resolution images are used for judging.