Northern Rivers residents forced out of town despite millions in flood recovery funding

Northern NSW is receiving millions of dollars in flood recovery funding. Meanwhile, residents like disability support worker Linda Hawke are still sleeping in swags.

North Coast residents who have lost everything said they are still left with no choice but to “start again” despite the federal government announcing more flood disaster payments.

Disability support worker Linda Hawke, 43, has been sleeping in a swag under her Coraki house after her family lost everything.

“I couldn’t work out how to apply at first and then I had to drive to Casino to get internet and my phone to work to apply,” she said.

“We’re grateful for the support but we are still just going to have to start all over again.”

The government announced extra support for residents of flood “catastrophe zones” on top of a one-off disaster recovery payment available through Services Australia to all flood victims – $1000 per eligible adult and $400 per eligible child.

Linda Hawke and dog Bill have been sleeping in a tent underneath the bus shelter in Coraki for the last week. Picture: Toby Zerna

A man uses a kayak to deliver supplies to a flood-affected property on March 7 in Coraki. Picture: Dan Peled/Getty Images

This included Lismore, Richmond Valley and Clarence Valley who are now eligible for an additional $2000 per adult and $800 per child.

The payments will be deposited automatically to people who have already applied for the government’s disaster recovery payment.

Ms Hawke said she is waiting for a car to come pick herself, partner and daughter up to relocate to Eden on the south coast and “start again”.

“I can’t get any emergency accommodation so we’re packing up and going south to Eden to live with my mum,” she said.

“We had to throw everything out because the water went straight through the top level of the house. We lost our cars as well, we hadn’t insured them either.

“I just want a house so I can put a roof over my daughter’s head. There’s nothing here for us so we’re going to start again down there.”

Businesses and homes get millions in flood recovery funding

More funding for businesses and landholders in the Northern Rivers region is giving a boost to those who lost employment and homes in the flood disaster.

Federal Minister for Emergency Management and National Recovery and Resilience Bridget McKenzie outlined a slew of funding packages at a visit to Ballina this morning.

“I am sure this won’t be the last announcement we are making as we proceed to the long road of recovery,” she said.

A small rural landholders initiative will see $25,000 for those on properties who earn less than 51 per cent of their income from off-property streams.

The clean-up continues in Lismore, but will be aided with a new federal government assistance package. icture: Toby Zerna

The $35m package will assist those with homes, machinery or fencing impacted by the floods on a small rural pocket of land.

A $150m critical industry package will target primary industries and agricultural businesses to help with fencing, herd rebuilding and other recovery measures.

The seven LGAs of Ballina, Lismore, Tweed, Kyogle, Clarence Valley, Richmond Valley and Byron will see extra support for medium businesses with more than 20 employees — they can access $200,000 in support in a $20m package.

Australian Army sapper Lance Corporal Jack Dalrymple helping Lismore Shire Council clear debris from Mulgum Creek Weir in Nimbin. Picture: Defence

Small businesses and not-for-profits who lost more than 40 per cent of income can access a $10,000 cash grant in those LGAs in a $20m package.

“They might be businesses that haven’t been directly impacted by flood water, but because the floods have been through the region their business has been impacted indirectly — but really directly — as a result,” Minister for Emergency Services and Resilience and Minister for Flood Recovery Steph Cooke said.

A $50 million bespoke industry package will target the major employers in the region to ensure people get back into jobs quicker.

$142m in demolition grants and property assessments will also be available to homeowners in the region whose houses have become uninhabitable.

The NSW government estimates 4,000 homes will be demolished.

Also announced on Friday was a $120m package for local government, including $40m in grants that councils can access for immediate relief.

“They are experiencing difficulty in relation to cash flow which is to be expected, employees they need to continue paying, they’ve got a big clean-up ahead of them and it’s really important we provide this support now,” Ms Cooke said.

$145m will go to local governments to assist with the repairing of critical infrastructure, particularly water and sewage.

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