ABOVE: Janelle Saffin addresses media in Lismore at the Resilient Homes Fund announcement with Premier Dominic Perrottet, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to the left and Kevin Hogan on far right. Photo: Contributed
Susanna Freymark
“This has gone down as the biggest natural disaster in Australian history.”
Federal MP Kevin Hogan reminded Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Premier Dominic Perrottet and other ministers at the media conference this morning in Lismore that previously it was Cyclone Tracy in Darwin that was the biggest disaster in this country.
Then came the February-March floods eight months ago.
This week’s rain event on Sunday (October 23), triggered everything again, Mr Hogan said.
“Everyone was traumatised. We are a traumatised community and we have a journey to take in that,” he said.
He welcomed the announcement of an $800 million Resilient Homes Fund from the State and Commonwealth that will benefit 2000 flood-impacted homes in the Northern Rivers.
Residents can apply for a buyback, house raising or a retrofit through the fund.
Mr Albanese said $520 million is for buybacks.
For people wanting to raise their homes, up to $100,000 is available.
Retrofitting of homes can be supported with up to $50,000.
Mr Albanese said all levels of government needed to do better.
“We need better planning and we must do better and not build on floodplains,” he said.
“Because of climate change, we are getting more weather events and they are more intense.”
State MP Janelle Saffin said “today was a good day”.
The needs of those who were flooded will be judged on a case-by-case basis.
“There is flexibility in the program,” Ms Saffin said.
Mr Perrottet said many assessments had already been done.
The Northern Rivers Reconstruction Corporation would be consulting with the community throughout next week.
“We will get this done as soon as possible,” Mr Perrottet said.
“The money is there.”
Ms Saffin said it was the start of giving local people clarity about their choices in the future.
“The next phase needs to strengthen our economic and environmental recovery,” she said.
One of the conversations we will need to have is what to do with the land after buybacks, she said.
There is $100 million to buy land that is out of the flood zones.
Mr Perrottet said they already had 150 expressions of interest for vacant land.
“Every state is facing labour shortages,” Mr Perrottet said. Finding tradies amid a housing shortage is the backdrop for the funding.
To apply for money for repairs, retrofit, house raising or buyback, fill out this form.
