Lismore flood crisis: NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet announces $67 million education package

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet has added extra funding for schools and early childhood education centres on the North Coast while continuing to be quizzed on the federal government's role in providing extra support.

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet has announced $67 million of additional support for the education sector across the region while continuing to be quizzed about the Federal Government’s role in providing extra support for flood affected communities.

Speaking at Wardell Public School today, the Premier and Education Minister Sarah Mitchell announced the support package which focuses on counselling, replacing lost equipment and rebuilding of facilities.

There was $9 million promised to help the early childhood education and care industry with up to $30,000 in grants for centres that couldn’t access small business support.

Counselling and psychology funding was included with $9.5 million dedicated to early childhood staff and trauma training to help students.

The TAFE sector was also included with $29.7 million dedicated to the sector in the region to help with replacing equipment and counselling for staff.

A $1000 grant was made available to staff at schools to replenish their lost equipment as well as parents being able to access $500 per student for school supplies like clothing, backpacks or books.

The funding was announced for local government areas in the Northern Rivers and North Coast.

The Premier was drawn into another stoush with the Prime Minister, repeating that he was “disappointed” with the slow pace to get funds out the door to affected communities.

“I’m disappointed it hasn’t got out faster but we’ll keep moving ahead,” he said.

“I’m in regular contact with the Prime Minister and also continuing as we work through different packages.

“Now we need to move to the rebuild, and we will accept any support the federal government can provide.”

NSW Liberal MP Catherine Cusack described the Prime Minister Scott Morrison as a “self-serving bully” who is clueless about women, has denied flood victims assistance and destroyed the Liberal Party.

In an extraordinary spray, Ms Cusack, who lives in the flood-affected Northern Rivers region, has told news.com.au the Prime Minister’s “petty” approach had denied families assistance and funding they desperately need.

The veteran MP quit NSW state Parliament a fortnight ago in disgust over flood assistance funding but remains an MP until the preselection for her position is resolved. She accused the Prime Minister of abandoning flood victims out of “pettiness” and divisions with the NSW Perrottet Government.

On Monday, the Premier called out the Federal Government on Monday for not backing up the state for insurance grants along Northern NSW.

Mr Perrottet said “they couldn’t wait any longer”, indicating the federal government weren’t willing to go halves with the state to provide the insurance grants.

Education Minister Sarah Mitchell indicated that 20 schools across the region had suffered “significant damage” with children at Wardell Public School currently learning at Alstonville Public School, 12 kilometres away.

NSW Minister for Education and Early Learning Sarah Mitchell announced further support for flood affected schools Picture: Christian Gilles / NCA NewsWire.

“Four or five schools have had significant impacts like Richmond River High and South Lismore,” she said.

“Our main focus is getting kids back to school.”

Mrs Mitchell also announced there will be a freeze on staffing levels to protect schools where enrolments might fall so that teaching staff remain in the community.

A chorus of voices against the Prime Minister’s response to the floods is growing with Liberal MP Catherine Cusack launching a scathing attack on Scott Morrison with his original flood payments controversy at the heart of it.

‘I’d consider’: Residents back $20k flood grants, push for land swaps

Lismore residents have welcomed the state government’s rebuild grants but admit the optimal solution would be land swaps away from flood plains.

Members of South Lismore, one of the most flood-prone areas of the town, backed the Perrottet government’s announcement for residents without flood insurance to receive $20,000 to repair their homes.

Brett O'Driscoll cleans up outside his Casino Street home which he purchased in May 2020 Picture: Nicholas Rupolo.

However, they admit that the latest major flood means residents will likely prefer the government to help them move to a safer location rather than rebuild in the danger zone again.

The idea was pushed by former mayor and current Lismore City Councillor Vanessa Ekins a few weeks ago who called on the federal government to stump up billions for relocation plans.

The $20,000 grant will be available to people in Hawkesbury, Ballina, Byron, Clarence Valley, Kyogle, Lismore, Richmond Valley and Tweed local government areas.

Speaking in Lismore, NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet said the government’s priority was to get people into safe housing.

He said he was committed to rebuilding a stronger, floodproof Lismore.

Flood Recovery Commissioner Mal Lanyon, Lismore MP Janelle Saffin, Premier Dominic Perrottet and Deputy Premier Paul Toole were joined by Lismore city Mayor Steve Krieg to announce extra $20,000 flood support for repairing homes across the region. Picture: Nicholas Rupolo.

Mr Perrottet made it clear the funding would not be dependent on matching funds from the federal government.

Lismore state MP Janelle Saffin said she has “asked for $50,000” for grants for people returning to damaged homes but that would depend on matching money from the federal government.

South Lismore’s Charles Weir lives on ground level on Phyllis St in South Lismore and was ecstatic to here the extra funding support.

He says he will use it for a new kitchen and to remove excess mould that has been building up in his home for the last month, making it impossible to sleep in.

“I was getting quoted $10,000 a year for flood insurance which is unaffordable, I don’t have any savings so I could probably replace my wall sheets to get rid of the mould in my house,” he said.

“If I got $20,000 it would make the house liveable and it wouldn’t make it toxic.”

Charles Weir owns his property on Phyllis Street in South Lismore but would take a relocation deal Picture: Nicholas Rupolo.

The 30-year old builder lost his supplies, tools and clothes during the flood and needs tens of thousands of dollars to get himself back on his feet.

However, home isn’t raised high above flood levels like other homes on his street meaning that even a major flood similar to last week would cause significant damage to his property.

He says that a potential land swap should be on the cards to move people on from flood plains.

“They reckon there are enough fields and areas in Goonellabah to move some of us out,” he says.

“I don’t want to rebuild here, yeah I will repair it but say I spend five years building back everything I own and then it happens again.

“I want to move out of flood zone I would take anywhere.”

Brett O’Driscoll has been at his Casino Street home everyday to clean rubbish out but said the $20,000 insurance grants by the state government were “awesome”.

“That’s some short term relief but that’s great we need that and hopefully they kick on with more support,” he said.

Brett O'Driscoll would consider relocating if the right offer came through for his home Picture: Nicholas Rupolo.

“We want to get back to living.”

He purchased his property in May 2020 and needs the money to repair his walls and remove rubbish so he can move back into it as soon as possible.

Mr O’Driscoll has lived in Lismore all his life and never thought government land buybacks were a possibility until now.

“It’s not a bad idea,” he said.

“I think they need to do something about flood mitigation too but it would be good if they could buy houses or make it safer for Lismore because we know we are on flood plains here.

“People might not want to move, but if I had an offer to move I’d seriously consider it.”