Flood affected residents in the Northern Rivers protest outside Labor MPs offices asking for more funding

By Sarah Waters

Mullumbimby resident Noelle Maxwell is one of the thousands of Northern Rivers residents who have been left traumatised by the 2022 floods and now she and her fellow residents have banded together to demand more from the state and federal governments.

On Tuesday, December 12, a community protest was held outside the Tweed office of Federal Labor Member for Richmond Justine Elliot and the office of Lismore Labor MP Janelle Saffin.

The protest attracted dozens of residents and local organisations, which signed an open letter demanding a fully funded flood recovery.

It was backed by the Green’s Member for Ballina Tamara Smith and Greens candidate for Richmond Mandy Nolan.

Ms Maxwell said the floods were deeply traumatic for her and so many other people and they’ve been kept in limbo for nearly two years.

“To have no idea if you’ll ever receive the support you need to return home has needlessly compounded that trauma,” she said.

“My house was flooded so badly that I have not been able to return, but I’ve been told multiple times that I’m not eligible for house raising.

“So even if I did fix my house, it would be devastated in the next inevitable flood.

“All we’re asking for is certainty and the financial support we were promised to return to our homes.” The open letter asks the state and federal governments to jointly provide funding to cover what has been identified as a $700m shortfall in the Resilient Homes Program, before the end of the year.

Cabinet figures suggested the delivery of 6000 home buybacks, retrofits and raises, indicated by the Northern Rivers Reconstruction Authority (NRRC), would cost $1.5 billion.

An initial round of $700m in funding was allocated last year through the Resilient Homes Program.

Three months ago, Labor revealed a new $150 million Community Restoration Flood Fund in its 2023-24 NSW Budget to support disaster impacted communities in the Northern Rivers and Central West. $100 million of the Community Restoration Flood Fund will adaptation plans, repair and replacement of critical community assets and improving the resilience of public infrastructure. be go towards the second instalment of the Resilient Homes Program in the Northern Rivers.

“We were promised 6000 buybacks, retrofits and house-raises from the Resilient Homes Program, but thousands of people are missing out thanks to a $700m funding shortfall,” Ms Smith said.

“It’s been nearly two years, and over three quarters of flood-affected people are still living in fear and uncertainty after being denied the house-raises, buybacks and retrofits they need to protect their homes,” she said.

The rest will go towards priority disaster

The Greens have since been calling for the Resilient Homes Program’s second tranche of $700m in funding, to make up the $1.5 billion needed to cover the 6000 affected houses.

In addition, flood affected residents said they want clear and appropriate timelines for the delivery of 4000 retrofits and house raises and 2000 buybacks for homes affected by the 2022 flood event.

They also want assurance that the NSW Reconstruction Authority operates transparently and communicates sensitively with community members.

It is estimated three quarters of flood survivors have gone without any financial support from the Resilient Homes Program.

Member for Ballina Tamara Smith, who is also the NSW Greens disaster relief spokesperson, said she was proud to see flood survivors raising their voices.

Greens candidate for the Federal seat of Richmond Mandy Nolan further criticised the state and federal Labor governments.

“The Greens stand behind the communities demands for the state and federal governments to jointly fund the resilient homes program so that all 6000 applicants receive support.

“Our current federal Member is the only Northern Rivers politician who is yet to call for this additional $700m to be delivered.”

In response, Member for Richmond Justine Elliot reiterated the Resilient Homes Program is a NSW state government program that is part funded by the Commonwealth in partnership with the NSW state government.

“The NSW State Government fund the remainder of the program and is responsible for its delivery and operation,” Ms Elliot said.

Continued page 6

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“I know how hard Janelle Saffin, as the Parliamentary Secretary for Disaster Recovery, is working to deliver assistance and support for our flood affected community.

“To date, the Federal Government and New South Wales Governments have collectively committed over $3.4 billion for disaster funding.

“In relation to additional recovery support, I’m advised that the Federal Government hasn’t received a formal request from the NSW State Government.

“We stand ready to assist and work with them,” she said.

Ms Elliot also took a swipe at the Greens and called the protest a desperate attempt to divert attention from the Greens’ recent ‘destructive actions’ in the Federal Parliament.

“Greens Party candidate Mandy Nolan is now shamelessly using flood victims to try and pretend that the Greens actually care about housing.

“Protesting outside Janelle Saffin and my offices, while at the same time continuing to block housing help, is just another cheap political stunt by the Greens,” she said.

August, has been widely recognised as a fierce campaigner for flood victims.

During the floods, she had to swim to safety after the house she

Wilsons River.

Ms Saffin said she remained absolutely committed to securing the full second tranche of NSW-Commonwealth funding to keep driving the region’s flood recovery.

“Together with fellow MPs and local mayors, I called for a reset of how things were being done, including the need for full funding and for greater transparency in how reconstruction is managed.

“I share local people’s frustrations at what has become a drawn-out disaster recovery process, but I’m in their corner every day, progressing better outcomes,” she said.

Member for Lismore Janelle Saffin, who was appointed NSW Parliamentary Secretary for Disaster Recovery, in was staying in became surrounded by flood water and her husband had to be rescued from their home on the

SIDEBAR: Almost two years on from the February/March 2022 flood disasters in Northern NSW new data obtained by the Greens has revealed that just 11 per cent of the 5001 applicants in the Tweed, Byron and Lismore councils, under the government’s $700m recovery program, have been approved for a buyback. The cost of each buyback is on average $583,567.