The need for community involvement and more money to be directed towards the flood recovery across the Northern Rivers was a key call from last Friday’s Northern Rivers flood conversation that took place at the Star Court Theatre in Lismore.
With only 1,100 homes having been found eligible for buyback and 493 homes being prioritised for raising and retrofits out of nearly 7,000 applications for help under the Resilient Homes Program Mandy Nolan, the Greens candidate for Richmond, was joined by Senator Mehreen Faruqi, Deputy Leader of the Australian Greens added their voices to the communities call for greater control over the process and the need for equitable distribution of resources.
Nolan and Faruqi were in Mullumbimby yesterday calling on the Federal government to work with, and place pressure on, the state government to address the lack of funding and community control over the flood recovery.
‘A year and a half after the devastating floods, many members of our community remain without a home. The lack of proper funding from both the Federal and State governments for flood recovery in the Northern Rivers has left people stranded and in despair,’ said Ms Nolan.
‘Thousands have put their lives on hold, waiting for approval for buybacks, house raising, or retrofits, only to be met with rejection. Meanwhile, others receive substantial support. The flood recovery process has turned into a cruel game of lotto, leaving many feeling lost and forgotten.
‘Some people are still desperately waiting for buybacks while others have been offered buybacks they never wanted, the whole process has been a disaster that has eroded the trust of the community.
‘Taking control of the recovery out of the hands of locals has created a process that is slowly tearing the fabric of the community apart. The community needs to be empowered in the flood recovery process because that will lead to the most effective and compassionate outcomes that will keep the community together,’ she said.
‘The Federal Government needs to step in, work with and put pressure on the State Government to not only fully fund the flood recovery but put the process back into the hands of the community to decide how they want that money to be spent.’
Action needed on climate change
At Friday’s meeting in Lismore locals said a united front was needed for the Northern Rivers to address the challenges that the area had as a result of the 2022 floods. They called for greater transparency, more support for renters, putting the communit at the front of the response and addressing thte impact of climate chage.
Senator Mehreen Faruqi, Deputy Leader of the Australian Greens, said ‘People have been left waiting for far too long. The Federal and State governments must work together, listen to the Northern Rivers community and get this bungled flood recovery back on track.
‘The most important thing the Albanese government can do to protect the Northern Rivers community, and this entire country, is to stop opening new coal and gas.
‘Minister Plibersek’s track record has been abysmal. In greenlighting one climate bomb after another, she’s chosen to protect the interests of the fossil fuel industry at the expense of our safety and the planet’s survival,’ she said.
‘Every new coal and gas project, including the Narrabri-Pilliga, Beetaloo and Barossa projects, is a ticking climate bomb ready to detonate and make the climate crisis worse.
‘The science couldn’t be clearer & the urgency couldn’t be greater. The only obstacle to putting an end to new coal & gas, and getting us off this dangerous trajectory, is Labor.
‘The Environment Minister should wake up, listen to the science and stop fuelling climate catastrophes by ruling out any new coal and gas projects, otherwise we are destined to see more fires and floods.’
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