Now time for Local Leadership for Lismore

Lismore City Mayor

Steve Krieg has called on the NSW Government to back the people of Lismore by committing to a local leadership approach to guide Lismore’s recovery from the worst natural disaster in modern Australian history.

The Mayor and Councillors met the Minister for Planning, leadership. We need a locally led vision for our city, a homes program that meets the needs of individuals and families, a focus on jobs creation and investment into our community over the long term.

“We have waited long enough for the State Government to bring answers and solutions to the table following needs of our community.

“We believe, Council is best placed to take the lead and partner with the community in our recovery and rebuild.” to guide people through the available housing options.

Mayor Krieg has written to the Premier and the Ministers requesting a meeting to discuss the Locally led plan.

What’s in the Plan?

Funding for critical infrastructure to accelerate the opening up of food-free land for much needed housing.

Jobs

OVER the course of my days, and my working life in particular, one thing has always tweaked my attention, if not scrutiny, and that is our culture’s obsession with work, albeit working hard compared to its polar opposite – not working at all.

As such, it’s fascinating to observe how some workaholics avoid at all costs being seen as doing nothing, as if working flat chat on pointless undertakings were something exceptional, and not just the superficial and childish application of exertion that it is. Relatedly, the popular turn of last century cartoonist Kin Hubbard once decreed, “Some folks can look so busy doing nothing that they seem indispensable.”

Having a compulsive work ethic that never knows when to switch off or refrain is a tell-tale sign for mine, that something is seriously wrong, however little or a lot, with the subtle inner functioning of a person’s soul. The simple ability to stop is one that has been greatly stigmatised and near on banished in modern times. My pet cringe in life is the expression of “deadline”, as if anything were so serious that associating it with actual death is anything but ridiculously warped and extreme.

In 1932 the Nobel Prize-winning mathematician and author Bertrand Russell wrote a groundbreaking essay called In Praise of Idleness. While the title might imply mirth and humour, the topic itself could not be more serious: doubly so when you fast forward the 90-years to now, and how so many people have since experienced burnout and crippling fatigue at working way beyond a healthy limit.

Like the consummate visionary and social discerner that Russell was, in the above-mentioned essay he noted, “There was formerly a capacity for light-heartedness and play which has been to some extent inhibited by the cult of efficiency…

I want to say in all seriousness, that a great deal of harm is being done in the modern world by belief in the virtuousness of work, and that the road to happiness and prosperity lies in an organised diminution of work.” Or in other words, getting the work-life balance right for us all should be much more of a focus than working ourselves to death to somehow make ends meet, albeit just for the fickle sake of merely “getting ahead”.

In the very same vein, the self-help practitioner Karen Salmansohn once succinctly stated, “It’s called an occupation. Not a preoccupation. It’s called success, not obsess. And it’s called being in a business. Not being in abyss-ness. It’s called giving yourself a break to avoid a breakdown. It’s called being good to you.” As such, setting aside moments for being constructively idle, and not always compulsively rushed, is a crucial addition we should all factor into our daily lives. Being brave enough to be considered lazy by refusing to partake in the frantic fast lane of life is a small price to pay for ensuring our mental health and having an overall sense of purpose; or quite simply as the wise old wandering Socrates once said, “Beware the barrenness of a busy life

Paul Scully, and the Minister for Emergency Services, Jihad Dib, this week and told them of the need for local leadership for Lismore’s recovery.

“I would like to thank the Ministers for visiting our region and their commitment to re-set the approach for the design and delivery of Lismore’s reconstruction efforts,” Mayor Krieg said.

“The way forward must put the community at the centre, recognise basic physical and mental needs, and have local the impact of the largest food in modern Australian history. The delays, misinformation and uncertainty has caused further trauma, prevented people from moving on with their lives and has had a fnancial impact on their livelihoods.

“Lismore City Council now calls on the NSW Government to back the people of Lismore by committing to a local leadership approach that is appropriately resourced and supported to create certainty and a future that meets the

Vision and Blueprint

Funding for a community led process to develop the long-term vision and blueprint for the Lismore region to drive growth, investment, homes and jobs.

Homes

A review of the Resilient Homes program to ensure it takes into consideration the impact of the 2022 natural disaster and socio-economic factors.

Funding for the adoption of a casemanagement approach and concierge service

Funding for critical essential road infrastructure to facilitate the development of food-free land identifed for jobs.

Community Investment Extension of funding for local organisations to provide essential support to individuals and families including temporary accommodation, relocation and mental health.

Human Impact Report and Strategy

Funding to undertake a Social Impact Report to examine how the disaster affected the lives of individuals in the community.