Details of a $3.5 billion war chest have been revealed as part of the flood response in the NSW Budget.
This includes $312 million for transport infrastructure, $145 million to replace water and sewerage infrastructure and $142 million for property assessment and demolition.
The "once-in-a-generation floods" were acknowledged in the Budget papers and that families and businesses across New South Wales had "stepped up to help each other through".
MORE STORIES:
"Just as the NSW Government was there to support the people of New South Wales through the hardship wrought by COVID-19 and the floods, we will support our state in navigating today's challenges as well," Treasurer Matt Kean said.
A specific section of the Budget was devoted to the government's flood response acknowledging: "The severe storms and flooding in February and March 2022 have had a devastating impact on communities across New South Wales, particularly in the Northern Rivers region," the Budget papers stated.
"In response, the NSW and Commonwealth governments have jointly committed $3.5 billion to support impacted communities and established the Northern Rivers Reconstruction Corporation to set and implement reconstruction priorities in the region."
The NSW Dominic Perrottet already announced a few weeks ago that a new Incident Control Centre will be built in Lismore as part of the NSW SES receiving a record $132 million from the state government.
Other measures are designed to provide immediate support and assist people and businesses with returning to their lives as quickly and as safely as possible, including:
- $312.5 million to deliver State and local government transport infrastructure resilience improvements and upgrades in the Northern Rivers.
- $145.0 million to replace water and sewerage critical infrastructure.
- $142.0 million for the Property Assessment and Demolition Program to assess properties and demolish those found to be uninhabitable.
- $67.0 million for the North Coast Flood Recovery Education Support Package to support the recovery of schools, early childhood education services and training providers.
- $36.0 million for levee repair works across northern NSW.
- Direct support grants for local councils, individuals and families, primary producers, small businesses, and not-for-profit organisations.
The NSW Government is also investing an additional $132.7 million to enable the NSW State Emergency Service to better respond to, understand, plan and prepare for flood and storm events. This includes:
- $58.7 million to upgrade critical priority unit facilities across New South Wales.
- $43.0 million to establish two additional zones in northern and western New South Wales with sufficient staffing to support local volunteers.
- $18.0 million to update the capability of the existing five NSW SES Zone Headquarters to Level 3 Incident Control Centre capability.
- $11.7 million to establish Zone Headquarters with Level 3 Incident Control Centre capability for the two new Zones.
- $1.3 million to develop an NSW SES Facility Strategy for modern Incident Control Centres.
Lismore MP Janelle Saffin said Budget confirmation of a $132.7-million investment in the State Emergency Service was a "welcome start" but was critical of several other aspects of the NSW Budget.
"Treasurer Matt Kean in his speech boasted that 'we are the government for infrastructure', so where is our infrastructure spend?," Ms Saffin said.
"It's an utter disgrace that there is no new money indicated for housing needs and the housing crisis right across the Northern Rivers, which was dire before the floods and is now calamitous.
"No continuation of the 16 weeks of rent assistance or acceleration of housing for flood-impacted communities, no jobs economic development program, no budget for fixing potholes or landslips, no river clean-up, and no school upgrades in the Lismore electorate.
"We need vision and planning ... resources not rhetoric need to flow from the Treasurer."
I'm a media professional with over 34 years of experience in public relations and journalism, including a decade setting Lismore's news agenda as the editor of The Northern Star. I have proven track record in growing audiences and improving engagement by delivering quality local stories for and about the Lismore community.
I'm a media professional with over 34 years of experience in public relations and journalism, including a decade setting Lismore's news agenda as the editor of The Northern Star. I have proven track record in growing audiences and improving engagement by delivering quality local stories for and about the Lismore community.
