The Northern Rivers Times Edition 133

Flood Recovery Fund

$70m for damaged community assets

Additional funding is now available to help repair social and community infrastructure damaged by the foods last year.

Under the $70 million Community Assets Program, councils can apply for between $100,000 and $7.5 million for projects that support the repair of parks, playgrounds, walkways, places of cultural heritage, and other community assets like libraries, pedestrian bridges and communitybased pre-schools.

The program, jointly funded by the Federal and NSW Governments under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA), will be available to the Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Lismore, Richmond Valley, Clarence Valley, Kyogle, Ballina,

Byron, Tenterfeld, and Tweed.

Federal Member for Page Kevin Hogan said nearly a year on, there was still work to be done to fully restore our communities to the way they were before.

“Parks and playgrounds in particular are important community hubs that bring people together,” Mr Hogan said.

State Member for Clarence Chris Gulaptis said the funding would provide further help to councils to restore some of the social and community infrastructure that remained damaged by fooding in 2022.

“The Community Assets Program is not just about building back for now – we’re building back better for the future by improving the resilience

of these essential assets,” Mr Gulaptis said.

“This package, part of more than $3.5 billion we have committed to support communities affected by foods in 2022, builds on the Government’s response to the Independent Flood Inquiry, which ensures emergency services are better equipped to respond to future disaster events and support impacted communities during recovery.”

Applications for the Community Asset Program will open Friday 20 January 2023. More information will be available at: www.nsw.gov. au/2022CLIRP.

One year after natural disaster

REFLECT, REBUILD Lismore

To mark the one-year anniversary of the 28 February natural disaster, Lismore City Council is holding a series of events to allow our community to reflect on the catastrophic food and to look forward as we rebuild our City.

Lismore City Mayor Steve Krieg said REFLECT, REBUILD Lismore will give residents the opportunity to once again come together to refect on the past 12 months, reconnect, heal and hopefully enjoy some entertainment to mark the city’s new beginning as we rebuild.

“While the morning of 28 February dramatically changed our city, it also

revealed the best of our nature with stranger coming to the aid of stranger, neighbour helping neighbour and our whole community standing as one,” he said.

REFLECT, REBUILD Lismore is funded by the NSW Government.

The frst event is a Service of Refection and Healing for our whole community to come together at Mortimer Oval from 6pm with the service between 6.30pm and 7.30pm. Prior to this a private event will be held to recognise members of the Tinny Army who saved countless lives on that fateful morning.

Running from Tuesday, 28 February to Sunday,

19 March, REFLECT, REBUILD Lismore also features a Community Concert at the Turf Club on Sunday, 5 March for those in the Lismore LGA, an open CBD Gathering on Saturday, 4 March with CBD businesses, food vendors, local artists, roving entertainers and four live music stages around the block which will be closed to traffc.

Other events include a Wellbeing Hub at the Quad between Tuesday, 28 February and Sunday, 5 March, a welcome party for the Bowilzilla Skate event at Nimbin on Thursday, 2 March and a Flea Circus Skate event at GSAC on Friday, 3 March.

The two fnal events are a Community Cricket 20/20 with former Australian Test cricketers, led by Adam Gilchrest, playing with local senior and junior cricketers at Oakes Oval on Saturday, 11 March and an Opera in the Gardens at the Lismore Turf Club on Sunday, 19 March with well-known international performers and orchestra.

A free bus shuttle service will be available for some events. Those who need transport to other events can contact Hart Services service on 1300 874 278 which is kindly providing a free pick-up.

Full details: www. visitlismore.com.au.