More funding and immediate action for the Resilient Homes Program
Petitioner:
Mr Richard Hughes
| Member:
Smith, Tamara
| No. of Signatories:
350
| Date closed:
29/09/2023
To the Speaker and Members of the Legislative Assembly,
Following the February/March 2022 Flood Disaster in the Northern Rivers of NSW, the NSW Government established the Resilient Homes Program (RHP). The Government Cabinet was presented with estimated funding of $1.5 billion for the RHP but only released $750 million.
The Northern Rivers Reconstruction Corporation was activated on 1 July 2022 - over 12 months ago! The Government and its agencies promoted information that it would offer buy-back, retrofit and raising funding to 6000 landholders.
Recently the NSW Reconstruction Authority released new flood mapping which is incorrect as it does not include all the current RHP applicants' locations. This has effectively reduced the numbers of landholders that qualify for immediate support under the Resilience Homes Program.
The NSW Government has consistently over promised and under performed in regard to the Resilient Homes Program. Building hope amongst trauma affected communities, then taking it away, is psychological abuse.
This petition asks the Legislative Assembly to call on the Government to:
• Urgently revise its flood mapping data so that it includes ALL property significantly affected by flooding and landslides in the February/March 2022 Flood Disaster as it currently does not, and
• Urgently provide the initial funding estimate of $1.5 billion so that the Resilient Homes Program can deliver focused, timely and expedited recovery to all residents significantly impacted by the February/March 2022 Natural Disaster.
