For residents desperate to find a way out following the release of an independent inquiry into the 2022 floods, the NSW Government’s response has raised more questions than answers.
During the cold winter months, Maralyn Schofield nailed discarded corrugated nails to the walls of her home as temporary insulation.
She’s one of thousands of River North residents whose homes have been flooded, and one of many looking to move to higher ground.
Ms Schofield hopes the NSW Government’s response to the independent flood inquiry will include details of the long-awaited land buy-back and swap program.
But she said Prime Minister Dominique Perrottet’s announcement made the situation “clearly clear” for homeowners.
“We are expecting some answers regarding the purchase and exchange of land. We have some small fragments, but nothing definitive,” she said.
“Most of us are either homeless or living in tents or a frame house, and at the moment I’m going to have to rebuild it because I can’t live like this anymore.”
A flood investigation commissioned by former police chief Michael Fuller and independent planning commission chair Mary O’Kane has found that people in the “highest risk” areas near Lismore should be “urgently” relocated.
While Mr Perrottet promised to accept all 28 recommendations, he said some would take time to implement.
He said the Redevelopment Authority would publicly express interest in a land buyback and swap program by the end of August.
“I know that for many people today’s eligibility will bring uncertainty, but we need to address this issue,” he said.
”I’m still not sleeping well because I know there’s probably another event coming next month and nothing has changed except my house is badly damaged,” he said.
“I put $20,000 of my grant money into my home. If there was a flood next week, I’d lose all my work, I’d lose everything I’ve donated, and then I’d be back to square one – if the house was still there.”
In response to the inquiry’s recommendations, the State Government confirmed it would merge the back office operations of SES and RFS.
The most comprehensive report into NSW’s 2022 catastrophic flooding has revealed management failures, inadequate flood rescue preparations and unreliable rain gauges. Here’s what you need to know.
Mr Fuller said he knew some SES volunteers would be disappointed but believed it would enable them to respond more effectively to major disasters.
“The Rural Fire Service has 70,000 volunteers… unfortunately the SES is a much smaller organization and they have about 200 people trained in flood rescue,” he said.
”The RFS has a very reasonable commissioner… who will accept and support the server merger without detracting from the value of the SES brand.”
Tweed County Council has filed an inquiry calling for the SES and RFS to merge with Fire and Rescue NSW.
But Mayor Chris Cherry said combining management of the two volunteer groups would be a fair compromise.
“Being able to share resources and synthesize understanding of each other’s responses will be a huge benefit to the community,” she said.
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Post time: Sep-10-2023