By Janelle Saffin MP
State Member for Lismore
FLOOD-AFFECTED residents and businesses in Murwillumbah and other parts of Tweed Shire are set to benefit from a range of short, medium and long-term support aimed at helping people rebuild from the record February 28 flood event.
The Northern Rivers now has a powerful Reconstruction Corporation to lead what will be a monumental flood rebuilding effort for Lismore and other impacted local communities across our region.
From day one, when it became clear that this disaster was unfolding as a national catastrophe to rival Cyclone Tracy in 1974, I started advocating for a Darwin-style reconstruction commission like the Queensland Reconstruction Authority.
NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet bought into my initiative early and last week appointed NSW Public Works Advisory head David Witherdin as Chief Executive of the Northern Rivers Reconstruction Corporation to be headquartered in Lismore.
Local tradespeople can register their interest in working on NRCC projects by emailing nswgovfloodrego@huskiservices.com
NSW Opposition Leader Chris Minns backs in this coordinated whole-of-government and regionally-focussed response 100 per cent.
I have written to Tweed Shire Mayor Cr Chris Cherry, her fellow councillors and General Manager Troy Green, offering to meet with Council so we don’t miss any good flood recovery idea as we continue advocating for Murwillumbah and surrounding villages.
‘Back Home’ flood grant now open
Flood-affected homeowners, renters and landlords in the Tweed Shire Local Government Area can now apply for ‘Back Home’ grant payments to help them replace appliances, reconnect utilities and make structural repairs.
NSW and Australian governments have co-funded a $112-million package to provide one-off payments of $20,000 for owner-occupiers, $15,000 for landlords and $5000 for renters to make homes safe and habitable again.
More than 5,900 residents from the Northern Rivers and Hawkesbury regions have already registered their interest in the ‘Back Home’ grant and Service NSW has promised to reach out to them as soon as possible..
If you are eligible and secure the Disaster Relief Grant (DRG) you are unable to apply for the ‘Back Home’ grant.
However, if you do not qualify for the DRG or have insurance (I know very few have) you can apply for the ‘Back Home’ grant.
Other impacted households who have not done so can apply on the Service NSW website or via the app, with support also available on 13 77 88.
For more information on the ‘Back Home’ grant and to apply, please visit
DRIVING CHANGE: Lismore MP Janelle Saffin welcomes NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet’s announcement of the Northern Rivers Reconstruction Corporation last week, an initiative she drove hard from day one.
