Meeting summary

Parliamentary Secretary Janelle Saffin MP opened the first meeting of the Northern Rivers Community Leaders Forum for 2024.  Over the Christmas break Janelle spent some time in the region with the SES and was happy with the uplift in preparation and community engagement from the SES and the local knowledge being used to inform their approach.

NSW Reconstruction Authority (RA) CEO Simon Draper introduced the RA update, noting that the agency understood that the Community Leaders Forum would be active in developing a strategic vision for the Northern Rivers, working alongside other key organisations including the Northern Rivers Joint Organisation of Councils (NRJO), the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the RA and the CSIRO.

Other key updates that were provided and discussed at the Forum included:

Resilient Lands Program (RLP)

The RA provided an update on the RLP following last week’s announcement of the first project which will provide more than 400 sites for homes in East Lismore.  This will be the first of several projects to be announced.  The Southern Cross University/Landcom/RA project will incorporate a range of housing types, from apartments to detached dwellings and will allow for relocated homes from participants in the Resilient Homes Program (RHP).  The RA has reached out to those in the RHP to advise them of the land becoming available and to let them know how they can register their interest.

Raise and Retrofit (R and R) program

James Davidson, who developed and led the raise and retrofit program in South East Queensland, has been engaged by the RA as the technical advisor to assist with the delivery of the Northern Rivers program.  For homeowners who have been identified as being eligible for the R and R program, the RA will be reaching out to them to offer Flood Resilience Home Assessments.  At the same time, local tradies will be briefed on what’s required to deliver the program with the aim to build local capability.

Insurance

An insurance scoping study has been underway in partnership with the University of Queensland to feed into the Parliamentary Inquiry into insurers’ responses to 2022 major floods claims.  This project is investigating potential solutions and current barriers to insurance for residents and businesses.  An early draft of these findings will be shared at a future meeting.

Doorknocks

The community outreach program that was introduced in late 2023 will continue into 2024, with the RA doorknocking impacted homeowners across the region to check in on their recovery and provide assistance where required.  RA undertook its eighth doorknock activity in Lismore at the end of January. Over 700 homes were visited with more than 200 household interactions undertaken and 39 referrals to provide residents with pathways for additional support. In total, almost 5000 homes have been visited since September 2023, with more than 1700 interactions with residents and almost 200 referrals.

Community Outreach Program

The RA is also actively leading a range of community outreach initiatives in the coming weeks across the Northern Rivers, enabling community to find out more about a range of initiatives including the RHP, RLP and Raise and Retrofit programs at their regular pop-ups across the region.  The RA will also be attending and presenting at a number of community events and meetings including the Byron Flood Emergency Action group, East Lismore and Gerards Hills community group and the Northern Rivers Collective Business Breakfast.
 
A range of other issues specific to areas across the Northern Rivers were raised and discussed and in between meetings members continue to interact with Northern Rivers RA staff to share local community feedback, ideas and any community ideas and concerns.