Community-led recovery, financial counselling services and mental health support for flood-impacted communities are just some of the projects on the Northern Rivers that will be funded under the NSW Government’s $1 million Community Resilience Grants Program.
The funding will provide certainty to 20 grassroots community groups across the Tweed, Byron, Lismore, Kyogle, Ballina, Richmond Valley and Clarence Valley, to continue their vital disaster recovery work in the areas most impacted by the 2022 floods.
Two of the larger grants will ensure Lismore and District Financial Counselling Service Incorporated can extend its flood recovery financial counselling services, and Wardell Community Organised Resilience Effort Incorporated can continue its support hub in the river town, which was heavily impacted by the 2022 floods.
Several of the projects will continue to build on community-based communication networks which arose from the 2022 floods to help improve response and recovery capacity in towns like Nimbin, Burringbar and Coraki.
A full list of recipients and details of their projects can be found here.
Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said:
“Community groups have been playing a vital role as the Northern Rivers continues its recovery from the floods of 2022, and this allows it to continue.
“We’ve met with several of these groups on our visits to the region and we have heard the message loud and clear that Northern Rivers residents need these services to continue.”
NSW Minister for Emergency Services Jihad Dib said:
“Many grassroots community organisations continue to support residents in their ongoing recovery from the flooding events of 2022.
“Groups like these have rallied around their communities in the wake of these flooding disasters and this funding will support their important work for long term recovery.”
NSW Parliamentary Secretary for Disaster Recovery Janelle Saffin said:
“Day to day these groups are dealing with the practical needs of people who are getting back on their feet after such a major disaster.”
NRCF CEO Sam Henderson said:
“We are thrilled to facilitate this critical funding going into place-based organisations who have been the cornerstones of their community throughout the recovery, and continue this important work, strengthening community networks and connections, improving current living situations and financial wellbeing and meeting basic needs of those impacted by the floods.
“We aim to build capacity at an individual and community scale, and support the Northern Rivers to thrive, building resilient communities that are better placed to respond and recover from disaster.”
FLASHBACK: Janelle Saffin MP flanked by her colleagues Ministers Jihad Dib and Paul Scully during an earlier visit to Lismore in the middle of last year.
