A public event to recognise the second flood anniversary was held at the Soundshell in Bruns last Wednesday, with the mayor, deputy mayor, police representatives and a handful of locals present, according to the photos posted on Council’s Facebook page.
Mitra Ardron, who says he was involved with the immediate flood response, posted, ‘It was noticeable who was and wasn’t there [at the anniversary event]’.
‘In particular, none of the co-ordination crew that I think of as largely responsible for the flood response – out of Mullum Civic Hall – were there: Jean Renouf, Luke Jaaniste, Ella Rose Goninan, Rae Stanton, Chai West, Adam Ess, Nerrida Haydon, Bianca Wildwood, Emma-Lee Luther, Nick… I’ve probably missed a few. Though it was good to see Zali Spinner, who organised the tinny rescues on the first night, and Melanie Bloor, the key organiser from Uki, Sasha Mainsbridge from the Library of Stuff, and of course, Sophie Wilksch who co-organised the Repair Cafe with me and others’.
Ardron described it as an ‘amazing volunteer response’, with ‘hundreds of people’, who ‘organised helicopter rescues, built bamboo bridges, hiked in Starlink dishes, and checked on every house’.
‘It’s these people that needed celebrating, but the actual recovery effort seems to have been consistently sidelined, because it really showed up the lack of capability by government at all levels, and the emergency service groups tasked with responding. [They were] mired by bureaucrap such as insurance, lawyers, and broken chains of command’.
Ardron said that after two years, flood-affected people are ‘mired in bureaucracy, trying to get rehoused or have their houses raised for example. Promised buybacks still haven’t materialised’.
‘[Mayor] Michael Lyon said a lot of good words on the stage, but I’ve not seen evidence that meaningful resilience preparation will happen’.
He added delaying assistance is also a trauma, and that building on floodplains shows little has been learned.
Ardron added it’s likely the same outcome will happen with the next major flood.
Debt of gratitude
Mayor Michael Lyon told The Echo in part, ‘We owe a huge debt of gratitude to all the first responders for their bravery and dedication in our community’s time of need’.
‘Council acknowledges our community’s frustrations with the ongoing challenges of accessing support for recovery from the catastrophic disaster events of 2022.
‘The community’s recovery and resilience priorities have seen Council advocate strongly for better outcomes, and this advocacy joins the voices of many who continue to push for positive change.
‘Meaningful resilience preparation is happening. Since the disasters, we have worked alongside local organisations and community groups who have been involved in the hard, on-the-ground work of recovery across the Shire.
‘Through our Community Recovery Team (funded by the NSW Reconstruction Authority), Council continues to partner with and support around ten emergent community resilience groups’.
He says community preparedness and resilience has improved, with information and training workshops for community members, ‘and improving emergency communications in vulnerable locations across the Shire’.
‘State-based agencies are the lead for disaster response and recovery in NSW and Council’s formal role in this stage post-disaster is limited, however we are committed to continuing our work alongside our community on the long-term recovery journey that still lies ahead’.
