The people of Lismore are being reassured they will not be forgotten by the NSW Government with the new Minister for Emergency Services making his first trip to the region since the election to meet residents this weekend.
The floods that swept through Lismore and the Northern Rivers were the most expensive natural disaster in Australian history, with the SES receiving over 32,000 requests for assistance.
With more than 10,000 properties damaged in the floods, around 1,000 residents are still in temporary housing.
The Minister for Emergency Services, Jihad Dib wanted to visit the region to personally assure people impacted by the catastrophic floods that their on-going recovery and reconstruction would remain a priority for the new Government.
Alongside Lismore MP Janelle Saffin, Mr. Dib’s first stop will be visiting HUB 2484 Murwillumbah, a grassroots community group who are still assisting flood affected people in the Murwillumbah and Tweed Valley areas. He will then meet members of Murwillumbah SES and RFS.
The Minister will also visit rescue workers in Kyogle, Lismore and Yamba to personally thank them for their efforts over the past 15 months, both during the floods and the long recovery since.
Much needed assistance will continue to be delivered to the people of the Northern Rivers and a wide range of support remains available to those affected by the floods including the Back Home Grant and Rental Support Payment, Disaster Relief Grants (DRG), Storm and Flood Disaster Recovery Small Business Grant as well as the Recovery Support Services program (RSS).
Those impacted residents and business owners are encouraged to contact Service NSW on 13 77 88, visit their nearest Service NSW Centre or complete the Disaster Assistance Finder on the Service NSW website for tailored advice and support.
Minister for Emergency Services, Jihad Dib said:
“I came here a week after the floods and have visited the area many times since. I gave my word that I would return so it’s important for me to be here again as Minister.”
“I’m inspired by the strength of the people in and around the Lismore area who, having lived through the worst flooding event in our modern history, are still pitching in to help their community as they continue their recovery.”
“The people of the Northern Rivers won’t be forgotten by the NSW Government and we will be doing all we can to help this beautiful region recover, build back better and develop plans to mitigate similar disasters from happening again.”
Lismore MP, Janelle Saffin said:
“Our recovery and reconstruction has a long way to go and it’s important to know that the people of the Northern Rivers are a priority for the new NSW Government.
“The community effort has been phenomenal from day one, and now we need a phenomenal effort from the new Government to pick up the pace on disaster preparedness, reconstruction and the economic recovery of our region.”
