As floodwaters rose across the eastern states, the NSW and Federal Government announced an $800 million Resilient Homes Fund for residents in the Northern Rivers of NSW affected by February’s floods.
Around 2000 homeowners in seven Local Government Areas in the Northern Rivers of New South Wales are now eligible to raise, repair, retrofit or have their home voluntarily bought back, as part of a new $800 million program.
The Commonwealth and New South Wales Government joint funding will support residential homeowners impacted in the February-March 2022 floods, in the seven Local Government Areas of Ballina, Byron, Clarence Valley, Kyogle, Lismore, Richmond Valley and Tweed.
NSW State Member for Lismore Janelle Saffin welcomed the program as a down payment on ‘building back better’ from this year’s floods – a mammoth job which will cost more in future budgets.
Ms Saffin thanked Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet for coming to Lismore on 28 October to jointly announce the fund, which includes voluntary house purchase (including relocatables), voluntary house raising, and retrofitting to make homes flood resistant, to make residents safe and secure.
She organised for Mr Albanese and Mr Perrottet to visit the home of North Lismore resident Brian Burgin, who told his personal story of surviving the record flood.
“This really is a landmark day in the history of the Northern Rivers region. It is the start of giving local people clarity about their choices in the future, and speaks to the transformational adaptation to natural disasters. The next phase needs to strengthen our economic and environmental recovery,” Ms Saffin said.
Tweed Mayor Chris Cherry also welcomed the announcement.
“This funding will make a real and lasting difference to our flood vulnerability into the future, but more than that, it will be a chance at a new beginning for so many of our families,” Cr Cherry said.
“This seems like a really well thought out program that has the potential to be the single most impacting action government has taken since the flood.”
The voluntary buyback scheme will be offered to Northern Rivers residents located in the most vulnerable areas where major flooding would pose a catastrophic risk to life.
The Northern Rivers Resilient Homes Fund package will also provide financial assistance of up to $100,000 for house raising or up to $50,000 for retrofitting for homeowners in areas where flood risk can be reduced by better building standards.
The New South Wales Government will provide $100 million to acquire land and open up new flood safe locations for future development, in partnership with the Northern Rivers Reconstruction Corporation. The corporation is currently conducting an expression of interest process to identify suitable parcels of land.
Eligible homeowners will be offered one of the three available measures, based on expert property assessments, including flood impact severity data, safety risks, and potential future flood levels.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said that by retrofitting homes to make them more flood resilient, and moving those at most risk away from danger, communities can be safer during future flood events.
“We know that disasters are expected to become more frequent, and more severe due to climate change, and that’s why we’re working with the NSW Government to develop practical solutions to protect lives and livelihoods,” he said.
“We know this repeated, relentless flooding can be emotionally and financially draining and we want communities to know we will be there to support them now, and as they recover.”
NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet said the Resilient Homes Program would help Northern Rivers’ residents take further steps on the road towards recovery while also boosting community resilience in the long-term.
“I saw first-hand the devastation extreme flooding caused across the Northern Rivers and I hope this program provides relief for so many residents who have suffered for too long,” Mr Perrottet said.
“We are stepping up to provide options for residents to move out of harm’s way and protect themselves and their families but we cannot continue to build back as we have in the past.
“We will work with the Northern Rivers community to ensure repairs, retrofitting and voluntary buybacks are undertaken in a way that will better protects people and their homes from future flood events.”
Federal Minister for Emergency Management, Murray Watt, said both governments would continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with the region on the long road to recovery.
“The Northern Rivers has been absolutely devastated by flood after flood,” Minister Watt said.
“We know that being prepared for future disasters is a huge boost when it comes to the damage and long-term recovery of the region. Investing in resilience measures in the home can significantly reduce the effort, cost and time to recover from disasters.
Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW, Paul Toole, said offers to individual homeowners will be based on extensive analysis of the 2022 floods and expert advice on any subsequent disasters.
“There is no one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to building back and this program offers multiple measures to help residents stay in the region in homes that can better withstand future floods,” Mr Toole said.
The Flood Property Assessment Program provides a first point of entry, with registered homeowners automatically considered for the Resilient Homes Program.
Meanwhile just days later the Federal and Victorian Governments announced an $877 million Recovery Support package, supporting businesses, farmers, and not-for-profits to rebuild and return to trade as quickly as possible, following the recent devastating floods.
Grants of up to $50,000 are available to eligible businesses and not-for-profit organisations to support recovery efforts including rebuilding damaged infrastructure and replacing damaged assets.
To help businesses navigate through the recovery period, more than $22 million has been made available for support services to facilitate the development of recovery plans, provide mental health support and assist in grant applications.
In addition, Business Chamber and Trader Groups Programs will be established to enable locally-led solutions for business activation.
Recovery grants of up to $200,000 will also be available for medium and large businesses directly impacted by the floods.
To assist primary producers and rural landholders, grants of up to $75,000 will be available as part of a recovery support package – complementing the existing Primary Producer Concessional Loan Program.
