Joint media release with the Hon Justine Elliot MP, the Hon Paul Scully MP, the Hon Jihad Dib MP and the Hon Janelle Saffin MP
More homes in the Northern Rivers will be prioritised for buyback and upgrades following today's announcement by the Albanese Government of a further $90 million for the Resilient Homes Program (RHP) bringing the total program value to $880 million.
The program relocates members of the community from high-risk flood areas by buying back properties that represent the greatest risk to life, as well as improving the resilience of eligible homes against future floods by raising, relocating, rebuilding, or retrofitting.
This funding will see more homes prioritised for buybacks and resilient measures. As of 29 November, 836 offers had been approved under the RHP, and 708 buyback offers had been accepted, with 564 settlements completed.
To help more homeowners access the funding in the resilient measures stream (house raises and retrofits), eligibility requirements have been revised to include a hardship provision that waives the co-contribution for eligible homeowners. It will also provide additional up-front funding for design and planning work in the initial stages.
The RHP was launched in October 2022 in response to the devastating floods, which impacted seven Local Government Areas (LGAs) in the Northern Rivers - Ballina, Byron Bay, Clarence Valley, Kyogle, Lismore, Richmond Valley and Tweed.
Initial funding of $700 million was jointly funded between the Australian and NSW Governments under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).
The NSW Government confirmed a further $90 million in its June Budget, which has now been matched by the Australian Government, bringing the total to $880 million.
The RHP is being delivered by the NSW RA. More information is available from the RA's website: www.nsw.gov.au/resilienthomesprogram.
Quotes attributable to Federal Minister for Emergency Management, Jenny McAlister:
"The Northern Rivers is one of the most flood prone regions in Australia and the community have proven their resilience time and time again to repeated flooding.
"But we also know that risk of future flooding is growing. That's why this program is so important -moving people in areas of greatest risk out of harm's way and, where they can remain in their homes, ensuring that they are better able to withstand floods.
"Today's investment builds on more than $1.2 billion jointly committed for the Northern Rivers through recovery support packages through the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements and more than $193 million in direct Commonwealth investment for medium-long term recovery and resilience projects."
Quotes attributable to Federal Member for Richmond Justine Elliot MP:
"Our recovery continues on in the North Coast following the devastating 2022 flooding event.
"As your strong voice in the Albanese Labor Government, I'm proud to be delivering this additional federal funding towards the Resilient Homes Program.
"This funding will ensure we can build back better, deliver more homes for our community, and improve our resilience against future flooding events.
"Working together with Janelle Saffin, NSW Parliamentary Secretary for Disaster Recovery and Jenny McAllister, Federal Minister for Emergency Management, we have secured this vital support for our community.
"The Albanese Labor Government and the NSW Minns Government have worked together to deliver more than $3.4 billion towards disaster funding in our region."
Quotes attributable to NSW Minister for Planning, Paul Scully:
"The Resilient Homes Program Northern Rivers is the largest program of its kind in Australia and is groundbreaking in terms of climate change adaptation.
"Home buybacks and improving the resilience of homes in the Northern Rivers increases the capacity of the community to withstand the impacts of future floods.
"I'd like to thank the Australian Government for matching the NSW Government's contributions dollar for dollar, which is a significant investment in the future of this community."
Quotes attributable to NSW Minister for Emergency Services, Jihad Dib:
"The 2022 flood in the Northern Rivers has been described as Australia's worst ever flood disaster, requiring a massive response from the whole community and governments at all levels.
"The RHP is continuing to assess properties for eligibility under the program.
"The size and scale of the program means that delivery takes time, but we're confident the program will help give people options to move off the floodplain and make their homes more resilient against the future impacts of floods."
Quotes attributable to NSW Parliamentary Secretary for Disaster Recovery, Janelle Saffin:
"We thank the residents of the Northern Rivers for their continued patience as the Resilient Homes Program Northern Rivers continues to grow and be enhanced.
"When the program was first announced at the end of 2022, we knew we would need more funding and here it is.
"The continuous improvement in the RHP is a testament to government listening to community needs. By revising requirements for those eligible for resilient measures funding, more people will have a pathway for assistance."
