Survey says: Retroft funding urgently needed for Northern Rivers

The results of a recent community outreach Survey conducted by Resilient Lismore have highlighted the urgent need for the NSW government to proceed with Tranche 2 of its Resilient Homes program funding. Resilient Lismore are particularly calling for retroft funding to be fast tracked, and for the current eligibility for retrofts to be revised.

Comments attributable to Elly Bird, executive director, Resilient Lismore:

“In early June, Resilient Lismore partnered with Red Cross, Social Futures, Uniting, and Headspace to undertake door to door outreach throughout the Lismore food zone. Outreach teams canvassed 695 homes, with 295 homes representing nearly 600 people completing a survey that had a particular focus on understanding the living standards of people who have returned to food damaged homes and the obstacles preventing them from restoring their homes.”

“Approximately 25% of homes are uninhabited or seemingly abandoned. Of the homes that were surveyed, more than 50% of responses regarding the condition of the bathroom and the kitchen reported ‘fair/ poor none’, and more than 50% of respondents were uninsured.”

“Respondents were asked about their barriers and challenges with recovery and rebuilding. As well as waiting on the outcome of the NRRC Resilient Homes program, there is a consistent theme of fnancial inability, mental and physical health challenges, and just not knowing what to do.”

“Our outreach survey shows that nearly 18 months after the 2022 foods, far too many people in the Northern Rivers are still living in substandard conditions. Of the 562 people covered by the survey, 126 (22%) are over 65 years of age. 65 people (11.5%) are living with a disability, and 32 (6%) are living with chronic or terminal illnesses.”

“These are the most vulnerable people in our community and they need urgent help to live in safe, secure and warm housing. They are increasingly at risk of harm if there is no further government assistance being offered to them. Resilient Lismore has secured an election commitment to help as many people as we can which we are very grateful for, but without additional government programs there are just so many people that we won’t be able to get to.”

“For so many respondents to report that their kitchens and/ or bathrooms are in poor condition – or worse, non-existent – shows the severity of the problem and underlines the urgency with which this needs to be addressed.”

“More than half the respondents were uninsured and were promised help by governments both federal and state. Homeowners are also reporting that banks will not lend them any funds to restore their homes. Our community is feeling abandoned, and it is clearly worsening their already fragile mental health.”

“Mapping recently released by the NRRC shows that much of the heavily impacted areas of South Lismore, Coraki, Woodburn and Wardell will not receive a buy back and will not receive any assistance with retroft or raising.”

“We are urging the government to commit to fully funding the program as promised through tranche two funding, and secondly we are asking them to revise the current eligibility for retroft funding. The eligibility now for retroft or raising is for homes that are below a 1 in 20 food, that means that the people we have just surveyed will get no further assistance.”

“The Northern Rivers is a strong, resilient, and connected community, but we need more government help to recover from the biggest disaster this country has seen since Cyclone Tracy.”

“We are calling on the NSW government to fulfl their pre-election promise to the people of the Northern Rivers and continue to deliver this urgently-needed funding which will make an immediate and tangible improvement in the lives of a community that has suffered too much for too long.”