Mullumbimby, Byron and Ballina excluded in the 2022 Flood disaster payments

“A thousand dollars isn’t going to get us very far when we can’t work and our house is ruined.” A young couple in Mullumbimby are left homeless, begging for government support.

A young couple are fuming after their hometown was excluded from the flood disaster payments.

Mullumbimby residents Sophie Smith and Ben Nicholls recently bought their dream home, only for it to be catastrophically ruined by floods.

“We’re essentially homeless now,” Mrs Smith said.

Mrs Smith and Mr Nicholls waded through flood waters outside their newly renovated home. Photo: Sophie Smith.

The government has not currently included Mullumbimby, Ballina and Byron as part of the disaster payments.

“It’s actually disgusting, Mullum had no help or support throughout this whole thing and we have hundred percent been in a state of emergency,” Mrs Smith said.

The pair recently spent over one hundred thousand dollars on renovations and were quoted sixteen thousand dollars a year for flood insurance.

Mrs Smith and Mr Nicholl’s brand new bathroom has lost its shine, replaced by mud. Photo: Sophie Smith.

“If we’re off work for a month we’ll lose around 10k in wages.”

Mullumbimby residents are currently only eligible to apply for the one thousand dollars payment.

“It isn’t going to get us very far - we can’t work and our house is ruined,” Mrs Smith said.

The young couple bought their dream home and now have to “start all over again”. Photo: Sophie Smith.

“If there’s a time for the government to step up it’s during a disaster, but they have completely failed many communities and continue to do so by not providing the essential support many desperately need,” she said.

She said the town had relied on the community to perform rescues and clean up the damage.

“There was no water, power or petrol. It was like an apocalypse and we didn’t see any SES, police, army or anything for over a week.”

This is what remains of their valued possessions, covered with mud and rust. Photo: Sophie Smith

Mullumbimby residents are calling for action to be taken to include the Byron Shire town and other highly affected areas to receive the disaster payments.

“There are people worse off than us and it’s heartbreaking,” she said.

“It was hectic and really scary. Everyone kept saying help will surely be here soon but it never came.”

“We have to start all over again.”

The pair are suffering after the damage, currently staying with a friend. They lost their house and everything in it, but managed to escape with their loving dogs. Photo: Sophie Smith

Greens candidate Mandy Nolan said people need a plan to move forward.

“We need to know we don't have to fight for disaster support as a part of an electioneering strategy and not be cut off,” Mrs Nolan said.

Mrs Nolan said the community plan going forward and payments to support this.

She said the funding exclusions showed “a lack of compassion for the community”.

Emergency Management and National Recovery and Resilience Minister Bridget McKenzie was contacted for comment.