Lismore flood victims slam State Government, NRRC, over slow flood recovery

Northern Rivers flood victims took to Lismore to vent frustrations and demand answers from the State Government over flood recovery as buyback numbers were cut and the overseeing body absorbed.

Northern Rivers flood victims have gathered in Lismore on Friday to vent their frustrations and demand answers from the state appointed agency controlling flood recovery – 16 months after the floods devastated the region.

It comes as Planning Minister Paul Scully,on Friday, urged flood survivors to “have their say on future housing developments”.

“We recognise the devastation the community has faced and want the Resilient Land Program to support the rebuild of the Northern Rivers community,” he said.

RoR organisers Sally Newham (left) and Mim Tee (right) speaking outside the NRRC office on Carrington St in Lismore on Friday.

The gathering outside the Northern Rivers Reconstruction Corporation’s office on Carrington St, Lismore was organised by volunteer community advocacy group Reclaim our Recovery to give that feedback following a revelation some flood victims would not be getting a buyback.

“Smoke and mirrors, that’s what it’s been all along,” RoR organiser Mim Tee said.

RoR spokeswoman Sally Newham said the “bewildering” maps showing where buybacks would be prioritised in the Resilient Lands Strategy, along with the revelation land for the flood-impacted won’t be made available until 2024 “has left many feeling despair and betrayal”.

On Tuesday it was revealed the NRRC would be absorbed into the statewide NSW Reconstruction Authority (NSWRA) – raising question in the community about accountability in an already prolonged flood recovery.

Ms Newham said “the lack of transparency” from the NRRC had caused “confusion, distrust and despair in an already traumatised community”.

Ms Newham said the maps showing where buybacks would be prioritised was “dividing the community”.

Northern Rivers flood survivors have gathered outside the new NRRC Lismore office to vent their frustrations over the slow flood recovery and demand answers after the agency has consistently “over promised and under delivered”.

“The halving of the buybacks and other options in the Resilient Homes Program was a deep shock to all,” she said.

About 6500 people have registered under the $700m Resilient Homes Package for buybacks, house raising and retrofits.

The state and federal governments said in October last year 2000 homes would be bought back under the program – but that number was quietly cut back to 1100 in June, meaning many residents will be told they are not eligible for any support under the program.

“We want the NRRC and the State Government to come clean about the second tranche of funding and stop passing the blame back and forth, because when they do that, they are kicking a traumatised community back and forth,” Ms Newham said.

“They have over-promised and now are underdelivering, and making the whole community feel gaslit and tormented along the way. It's worse than not good enough.

“This is what communities throughout the country have to look forward to as climate change deepens and disasters get more common.

“Lismore is the canary in the coal mine.”

RoR is also concerned that the NRRC “have divided the community” and that neither the Homes nor Lands programs have addressed the needs of the significant renter population on the flood-plain.

An aerial photograph showing floodwaters engulfing central Lismore. Photo: Dave Hunt.

“According to Census data, renters made up about a third of the South Lismore community, and about a quarter of the North Lismore community prior to the disaster,” Ms Newham said.

“What happened to the early promises of no one being left behind in our recovery?”