Locally owned and independent
December 14, 2023
The Northern Rivers Times
NEWS 21
RESILIENT LISMORE ANNUAL REPORT 2023 Resilient Lismore has released its annual report for 2023, highlighting the work done by the community organisation over the year. The community organisation’s ‘Repair to Return’ and ‘Two Rooms’ programs cover Lismoreand the heavily impacted downstream communities of Coraki, Woodburn, Wardell, Broadwater, and Bungawalbin and have also supported residents in Casino, Kyogle, and Ballina. Since the 2022 flood, Resilient Lismore has coordinated volunteers who have performed around $4 million worth of volunteer aid, including more than 14,000 volunteer deployments and 85,000 volunteer hours. It has developed a tool library and facilitated around 2,500 tool loans which have helped residents begin to rebuild their homes and lives.
Resilient Lismore has completed more than 4000 jobs ranging from clean-up to fixing stairs and windows to rebuilding bathrooms. It has delivered around 350 significant property repairs, assessed more than 1200 sites, and conducted nearly 4000 wellbeing home visits, appointments or phone calls. The Community Hub has seen more than 20,000 walk-ins since it opened in October 2022, and Resilient Lismore outreach programs have doorknocked 2500 homes twice. The organisation has made around 700 general referrals to other services, and distributed around 900 vouchers, Givit applications or other brokerage. Resilient Lismore has facilitated training for more than 100 volunteers and community members and hosted local community events with
more than 400 people across South Lismore, North Lismore, East Lismore and Central Lismore attending. It has also hosted regular community services interagency network meetings and enabled coordination and collaboration within the disaster recovery sector. Resilient Lismore secured a commitment of $5 million in funding from the NSW Labor Party prior to its election in March 2023 and in September the new Labor Government confirmed it would provide that funding for Resilient Lismore’s ‘Two Rooms’ and ‘Repair to Return’ programs. Quotes attributable to Anne Meagher, incoming Chair: “Resilient Lismore has its genesis in selfless, community-based, mutual aid. That is what defines us, and we are committed to never losing sight of it.
Urgent NSW Government support needed as Richmond and Clarence Valleys face billion-dollar fire ant threat An outbreak of fire ants in the Northern Rivers, which the NSW Government admits could cost one billion dollars, requires immediate action from State Premier Chris Minns, Clarence Nationals MP Richie Williamson has told the NSW Parliament. “These pests cause grievous harm to their victims - be they humans, native fauna or livestock,” Mr Williamson said. “Small businesses and
family farms are going to cop it big time and they need immediate assurances that the NSW Labor Government will be on their side just as the previous Coalition Government was on our side when we went through drought, fires, COVID and floods.” Mr Williamson said that without immediate action, this could become a biosecurity and economic nightmare for communities across the Richmond and Clarence Valleys and beyond.
“We need to wipe out the infestation as quickly as possible and we need to support financially the many affected by the crisis,” Mr Williamson said. “This Sydney Labor Government has not been great for regional areas like ours so far, but this has nothing to do with party politics; its about lives and livelihoods and I urge the Premier to show the leadership we need in these dark times,” Mr Williamson concluded.
“We are a place-based organisation, and it is this place and this community that guides us and determines who we are and what we do. Our community has worked together, to save ourselves and to restore and retain our community identity as we walk the long road of recovery. “Resilient Lismore is a clear and important example of the power and strength of communities when they come together in a coordinated effort and demonstrates the critical importance of community-led initiatives in disaster recovery.” “Resilient Lismore is agile. Being both connected to, and part of, the community, the organisation is able to quickly deliver what its community needs.” “The Northern Rivers faces a long and difficult journey to recovery.
Resilient Lismore will be there every step of the way, helping to repair and rebuild, and drive the resilience of our beloved community.” The Board is very proud of the efforts of all the staff and volunteers who have delivered such an impact since the disaster in 2022, and we are committed to continuing to support our community in meaningful ways. Quotes attributed to Elly Bird, Executive Director: “Moving into 2024, Resilient Lismore is working to scale up its rebuild and repair program, as the only community NGO delivering this type of assistance. We are acutely aware of the significant need that still exists across the region and are doing everything we can to respond.” “We would not have been able to achieve the things we have
without the help and support of our generous partners, including the Diocese of Lismore, The Winsome, Joel Jensen Constructions, The Reece Foundation, and so many more.” “This is an ‘allshoulders to the wheel’ recovery. Many hands make light work, and there are many ways that local people and businesses can contribute to our community recovery. We encourage local businesses to get involved in any way they can and would welcome conversations as to what that looks like. We are also very keen to continue to partner with external organisations and networks.” You can download the full report at https:// www.floodhelpnr.com. au/publications
Lismore Mayor Steve Krieg statement on Waste Review following rejection of Rescission motion “Council has resolved to further investigate how we might progress with a new waste and resource recovery model and strategy. “As has already been stated, the Waste Service Review report was long overdue, and the most comprehensive review into our waste and resource recovery services and plans, ever undertaken by council. “The report provided transparency to all our elected members on Lismore’s current state, identifying every challenge we face and providing a recommended pathway to get things back on track to being financially, environmentally, and socially sustainable. “This is not just about domestic waste collection services; it is a much bigger body of work to ensure the health of our region and
the sustainability of our services well into the future. “The reality is, with successive leadership changes and through successive natural disasters the overall operations of our waste services and resource recovery for the city is not where it should be. “We are being honest about that with our community because it is our responsibility to deliver efficient and sustainable services. No one would expect us to continue to operate with multi-million-dollar deficits year on year. “As we have stated
Lismore Mayor Steve Krieg
from the beginning there are no Lismore City Council staff job losses proposed as part of these actions. “Council has received the report into the sustainability of the city’s waste and resource recovery operations and has now endorsed further work be undertaken to explore the feasibility of the proposed Option Model C. “The reality is however, there are still several steps and separate decision points for council before we can adopt an alternate model of operating. “Our priority continues to be our people and will continue working with our teams over the coming months as we start to formalise what needs to be done to transition toward more sustainable operations for our waste and
