2022-10-28
Today’s $800 million announcement for home buybacks and flood resistant renovations program is a huge relief for many residents in the Northern Rivers, but there are still too many people living in vulnerable places and the planning system is still allowing development on floodplains all across the state.
Greens MP and Lismore resident Sue Higginson said
“For those of us who experienced the trauma of these floods it is a lived reality that in our changing climate, we need to be far more ambitious about the mitigation measures we take. We need a whole community, state and country response that recognises the floods in Lismore are just the beginning of what will become more dangerous and more deadly.“
The $520 million for the buybacks in the Northern Rivers is just the tip of the proverbial iceberg when it comes to homes and properties that are at risk of catastrophic, climate induced floods. Right now, in this state, there are developments planned on flood plains, estuarine areas and beside coastlines that will inevitably be threatened by rising water like in the Hawkesbury where the Premier’s Warragamba Dam project cannot keep people safe.
“I am so grateful that some of the worst affected residents in my home of Lismore have finally been given some certainty about their future, the 2,000 worst hit properties will have the assistance they need to get their families and their lives to safety but there are still so many traumatised people who will be left behind by this announcement."
“This funding needs to be broadened so that all people who are clearly not safe in their homes are given the opportunity to relocate. If the Premier is serious about more funding being made available, then it should be a community-led conversation about who needs to be included."
“I acknowledge the commitment from Anthony Albanese that the National Cabinet will discuss the crisis of poor planning and I hope they set ambitious targets to not just reform Australia’s planning rules, but I also hope that they have a serious conversation about creating pathways for people to make planned retreats. “It is simply not good enough that people are only given these opportunities after these floods. We need proactive and compassionate plans to assist people who are still waking up fearful of the sound of rain on their roofs. These people might not be included in this announcement, but they are still just one tragic rain event away from being left homeless and without hope"