Meeting summary

Members of the Central West Community Leaders Forum (CLF) met on 22 November 2024 to support progress on the delivery of the key components of the $100m Central West Recovery and Resilience Package, including the Resilient Homes Program – Central West.

Regional Transport Resilience Fund

Transport for NSW advised that successful projects have been approved by the Minister in the 4 LGAs and councils have received funding deeds for these projects.

Community Assets Program

The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development advised that the 21 successful projects under the program were progressing, with:

• 17 projects across the 4 LGAs in the implementation phase with the first instalment completed., and
• 4 projects in negotiation of project deliverables.

Legal Assistance Relief and Recovery Package

Legal Aid NSW advised that to date 450 flood related legal services have been provided to 206 individuals across the Central West. The Legal Aid team have also attended and provided information, advice and community legal information at 27 events to the community and community workers across the region. Staff continue to work closely with the Resilient Homes Program Central West team.

Resilient Homes Program Central West

The Resilient Homes Program Central West opened on 28 October 2024 to accept applications from flood impacted homeowners.

As of 15 November:

122 applications had been submitted, distributed across local government areas as follows:

• Cabonne  - 56
• Forbes  - 41
• Parkes  - 18
• Lachlan  - 7

In addition, the customer engagement team had completed 130 face-to-face customer interactions, 119 outreach phone calls to homeowners, and received more than 150 enquiries via phone and email.

Eligibility assessments have commenced on applications that have been received and floor levels will be surveyed and matched with flood level information prior to home assessments starting.

The customer engagement team continues to provide ongoing outreach to assist homeowners with applications and support them through the process.

General business

The CLF considered the needs of businesses in flood-impacted areas. It also discussed the need for readily available flood-resilient land in the Central West and took steps to promote this requirement.