Further to the April 9 story on the eviction of a 74-year-old man from the Bayside Brunswick Heads emergency pods, The Echo has been told he has been allowed to return until the June 27 eviction deadline.
This comes as a great relief not only to Dirk Skelton*, but also the woman he cares for, who also resides at the pod village.
The Reconstruction Authority (RA) announced the closure of three pod villages across the region, including the Bayside pods, with Labor MP Janelle Saffin promising she would do everything she could to rehome those impacted.
Dirk, who is recovering from knee surgery and has other health issues, told The Echo he was forced to move to Ocean Shores emergency accommodation before the cyclone, and then Ballina emergency accommodation after the cyclone, despite telling RA he was a carer for a fellow pod resident, Trish Bowie.
Ms Bowie told The Echo she lives with depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and that the removal of Dirk was traumatic for her.
Both Dirk and Trish wanted the public to know that they felt let down by their local politicians, but were grateful that Dirk had been allowed back, albeit only for a few months.
Trish stated, ‘I am also Dirk’s carer through Carers’ Gateway. I assist Dirk with physical things, that don’t impact my OCD, when he is in extreme pain’.
All of the claims around the health issues of Dirk and Trish are supported in a letter by local GP, Dr Francisco Perello.
Dr Perello said he was concerned that ‘Dirk was having to look for suitable accommodation with his current health condition’.
Additional letters from his physiotherapist and surgeon also confirmed Dirk’s condition.
MPs ignore pleas
In an email to local MP Justine Elliot on March 17, Dirk asked to remain at the pods for two months, as he recently had left knee replacement and subsequent left hip complications.
He said, ‘Also, I am not in a position financially, mentally or otherwise to actually move – and with nowhere to go!’
‘I am also a carer for an acquaintance in the village who has a mental disability, ‘OCD’ which is an anxiety disorder, and depression, so is even more distressed than usual with me not being nearby.
‘This has become a matter of urgency, particularly since the recent cyclone event’.
Dirk and Trish say there was no reply from the Labor MP Justine Elliot’s office after their calls.
When asked, Mrs Elliot told The Echo, ‘For privacy reasons, I don’t disclose information about specific constituent enquiries to my office, but people know they can count on me to pass any such enquiries about the temporary housing in Bayside, Brunswick Heads directly to Minister Janelle Saffin and the Reconstruction Authority for their attention and response.
‘I understand the RA is working with Community Housing Providers to find more permanent, secure accommodation options for impacted pod village residents where the private landowners of the Bayside, Brunswick Heads property have not granted an extension for the temporary housing to continue on their land’.
Promised call-back
Dirk also says that Lismore Labor MP, Janelle Saffin, did not reply to his plea for help, despite promises of a return call.
Ms Saffin’s office told The Echo she could not comment on individual constituent matters for privacy reasons, but reassured The Echo that her team had made representations on behalf of all residents of the Bayside temporary housing village in Brunswick Heads who had reached out for assistance.
She said, ‘We’ve offered people clear and consistent advocacy, escalating their issues on a case-by-case basis to the NSW Reconstruction Authority and Homes NSW who are working on plans to get everyone the stable, long-term housing that they need and deserve’.
Isolated let down
Trish added, ‘We were hoping local MPs would do their job – instead we were forced to navigate this by ourselves. We were left feeling isolated and let down.
‘It’s good that RA have the done right thing, yet the people here at the pods are still very worried for their future. Looking for rental properties is hard given there isn’t much available’.
RA declined to comment on the matter when asked.
*Dirk Skelton was incorrectly named Dirk Bandist in the original April 9 story.
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