Saffin announces $800,000 in community election commitments

STATE Member for Lismore today (6 March 2023) announces a suite of small-scale election commitments aimed at strengthening local communities for future natural disasters, improving services for families and youth, and supporting sport and cultural life.

Ms Saffin says she remains firmly focussed on leading the flood recovery and is also delivering projects, small and large, which will make a real difference to people’s lives across our electorate.

“Today, I’ll be meeting with members of the Nimbin Advisory Group and Aquarius 50 Organising Committee in Nimbin, and then visiting Friends of the Koala Incorporated in Lismore, to thank them for the work they are doing in the community,” Ms Saffin says.

“And over the coming weeks I’ll be catching up with other local community leaders driving more great projects.

“These election commitments are ones I have secured support for if a Minns Labor Government comes to office at the NSW State Election on March 25.

“They are all projects that I shall work to support if I am re-elected on March 25, as no matter what, all are needed.”

Local commitments so far include:

• Lismore City Council – a one-off funding grant towards constructing and maintaining a disabilityfriendly public amenities block in Nimbin’s Peace Park, recognising a 15-year campaign by the Nimbin Advisory Group for this facility-$400,000.

• Nimbin Chamber of Commerce’s Aquarius 50 Organising Committee – towards staging a regional festival in May to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the original Aquarius Festival in 1973 -$50,000.

• Friends of the Koala Incorporated – enhancing its Community Education Centre in Lismore, improving awareness of the plight of our koalas and of FOK’s vital work in saving injured native wildlife -- $50,000.

• Tenterfield Shire Council –improving Tenterfield

Aerodrome’s disaster readiness capacity, including purchasing and installing a water tank and pump, and safety works -- $50,000.

• Kyogle Family Support Services Neighbourhood Centre Incorporated – purchasing an AWD vehicle to support community participation and inclusion in its social programs, particularly West of the Range where services are limited -- $50,000.

• Hub 2484, Murwillumbah –delivering much-needed flood preparation and flood recovery projects to support local residents of this postcode who were severely impacted by the 2022 floods -- $40,000.

• North-Tracks Works, Lismore –towards running its innovative youth support program post-floods -- $40,000.

• RiverTracks, Murwillumbah – towards running trade skills youth workshops designed to educate and empower youth at risk of disengaging from education -- $30,000.

• Back-Track Works, Tenterfield – constructing an amenities block at its training hub to support youth participating in its training and skills development programs -- $30,000.

• Kyogle Football Club – draining the sub-surface perimeter of its main adult ground in Chauvel Street, which is also used by school groups for athletics carnivals, future proofing it during localised flood events -- $20,000.

• Kyogle Golf Club – towards purchasing and installing new fire-safe glass doors and plumbing work -- $15,000.

• Woodenbong Progress Association’s Resilience Group –fitting out two shipping containers, already funded under the Community Building Partnership program, as an emergency evacuation hub on a site near the Woodenbong Showground -- $15,000.

• Murwillumbah Croquet Club Incorporated – repairing, prepping and painting the exterior of its historic clubhouse -- $10,000.

Ms Saffin said she was very much looking forward to seeing these local projects completed during 2023.