LISMORE MP Janelle Saffin’s repeated calls for Resilience NSW’s Mobile Recovery Street Teams to be deployed on the ground to doorknock flood-affected residents of South, North and central Lismore have been heeded by the NSW Government.
“I know they were needed weeks, even months ago, but they are here now. I welcome the services on the ground with our community where they are needed,” Ms Saffin said.
“This is so much better than dealing with a call centre,” the MP said of the Government’s weekend announcement of the outreach work and of Resilience NSW establishing a presence at The Koori Mail in the Central Business District; in Goonellabah; and at the old railway station in South Lismore.
“I have made repeated calls for a local presence on the ground; for boots on the ground with their notebooks, for Government Agency representatives to come to local people who need their help the most and to offer face-to-face, practical and compassionate assistance.
“I again raised this issue strongly in Parliament last week during a meeting with NSW Emergency Services and Resilience and Minister for Flood Recovery Steph Cooke and in representations to NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet’s office.
“This door-to-door flood recovery mission will be very much welcomed by local residents, including South Lismore icon John Habib JP, who is also with the local SES.”
The Government earlier today (Saturday, 14 May) announced that Resilience NSW’s door knocking program had begun in South Lismore on the following streets:
- Caniaba Street
- Casino Street (west of Caniaba Street)
- Charlton Avenue
- Elliott Road
- Engine Street
- Kyogle Street
- Meadow Drive
- Newbridge Street
- Phyllis Street.
Mobile Recovery Street Teams will provide flood-affected residents with information on a range of financial, mental health and accommodation support on offer, and how to access it.
They will also be providing immediate assistance in the form of food hampers.
To complement the door knocking program, Mobile Recovery Points will be set up at the following locations and times:
- The Koori Mail – weekly from Tuesday 17 May.
- Goonellabah – fortnightly from 19 May.
- Former South Lismore Train Station – weekly from Friday 20 May.
STREET WALK: A file photo of Lismore MP Janelle Saffin briefing Federal Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese on flood damage in Lismore’s Central Business District. With them are Labor’s Federal candidate for Page Patrick Deegan and Federal Shadow Minister for Disaster and Emergency Management Senator Murray Watt.
