Flood recovery update

Tweed homeowners, devastated by the 2022 floods, could be eligible to raise, repair, retrofit or have their home voluntarily bought back though the Northern Rivers Resilient Homes Fund package jointly funded by the Federal and NSW governments.

The Resilient Homes Program will begin reaching out to eligible residents from November 2022.

Residents already engaged in the Flood Property Assessment Program, delivered by NSW Public Works and Johns Lyng Group, will be contacted automatically.

Registrations are still open for the Flood Property Assessment Program.

Residents not yet engaged in the Flood Property Assessment Program are encouraged to submit their contact details to the Northern Rivers Reconstruction Corporation.

Visit the Resilient Homes Fund web page for more information about the program, including guidelines, eligibility and co-contributions.

Tweed property owners whose residential or commercial building was damaged by the 2022 floods are invited to participate in the free NSW Government Flood Property Assessment Program (FPAP).

The opt-in program provides property owners with a free assessment report, including a comprehensive scope of repair works and an estimate of repair costs to pre-flood conditions.

The Department of Regional NSW (DRNSW), in conjunction with NSW Public Works, has appointed the Johns Lyng Group as the managing contractor who will provide qualified assessors and demolition services for the program.

By registering with Service NSW, a case manager from Johns Lyng Group will be in touch to schedule an initial building inspection. A case manager will be assigned to you who can assist at any stage of the process.

A building inspection will be carried out and you will be presented with a detailed assessment report.

The assessment report is only provided to you and is not available to council, insurers or the general public. However, you can provide the report to your insurer or builder to assist with planning repairs or rebuilding.

Owners can use the report to determine their next course of action.

To find out more about eligibility and details of the process visit the Flood Property Assessment Program web page or call 1300 294 027. 

If your residential or small business property is in the Tweed and you are concerned that the soil on your property may have been contaminated by the February and March 2022 floods, you can request to have the land assessed.

The assessment is carried out by qualified inspectors as part of the Contaminated Lands Assessment Program. This program is being managed by the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) and is being jointly funded by the NSW and Australian governments under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.

You can complete the online form for yourself or on behalf of someone else.

Property owners and tenants will need to submit a separate request for each property.

Applications close 30 June 2023.

All ground surface level property assessments performed under the program will be assessed by a land contamination expert engaged by the EPA, with priority being based on the risk to public health and the environment.

The program will not reimburse you for flood contamination assessment costs if the assessment has already been performed or completed.

For more information, registering and frequently asked questions, visit the EPA website.

Following the termination of Resilience NSW in December last year, the majority of functions of the agency have now been taken on by NSW Reconstruction Authority (NSW RA).

The work of the former Resilience NSW remains a priority and is ongoing and will continue as part of the NSW Reconstruction Authority which is dedicated to assisting communities in flood-impacted regions.

The NSW Reconstruction Authority Act 2022 establishes the agency as the lead agency for disaster prevention and preparedness and reconstruction and recovery following disasters and other emergencies.  

While under the Act, NSW RA will continue key functions such as:

• disaster prevention and preparedness, including
• reconstruction and recovery following disasters and other emergencies,
• to provide advice and support to local councils to help maximise the effectiveness of councils’ disaster preparedness and reconstruction programs,
• to lead public education on disaster risks and certain disaster preparations,
• to assist with the development of flood plans.

For more information, visit NSW Reconstruction Authority

Flood-impacted commercial landlords in the Tweed will be able to apply for support  thanks to the Australian and NSW Governments.

The $30 million Northern Rivers Commercial Property – Return to Business Support Grant assists property owners who lease to small and medium businesses in the Northern Rivers.

This support will cover repair-related costs for landlords to ensure retail businesses can reopen and could include clean-up services, hiring equipment or covering the cost of building repairs.

The grants will support the repair of commercial premises to help businesses reopen their doors, get locals back to work and keep the local economy moving.

Applications for the Northern Rivers Commercial Property – Return to Business Support Grant are now open.

Customers are able to register to be notified when applications open by contacting Service NSW on 13 77 88.

Flood-impacted commercial property owners and landlords in the Northern Rivers will be able to apply for up to $50,000.

For a full list of all available support, visit nsw.gov.au/floods or call Service NSW 13 77 88.

Is your business in a location that was impacted by the 2022 flood crisis?

The Strengthening Business Program is free and connects you with experts to help your business recover, become stronger, more resilient and better prepared for the future.

An independent facilitator will work with you to address the challenges and opportunities your business now faces.  

You'll get a roadmap with strategies and goals to achieve in the immediate, medium and long term. Your facilitator will recommend ways to strengthen your business systems, operations and strategies. 

They work with you for 12 months helping you to achieve your business objectives. 

Visit the My Business website for more information. 

The Chinderah Donation Hub, located at 23/18 Ozone Street, Chinderah, in the Chinderah Industrial Estate (behind the BP Service Centre), located between Supaloc and Chinderah Motors, is open Monday to Friday from 9 am to 4 pm.

Mondays

Pottsville Beach Neighbourhood Centre RSS team are at the hub Mondays 9 am-1 pm assisting flood affected community.

Wednesdays

The MCC service is also operating from the Hub on Wednesdays from 1 pm – 4 pm by appointment for Flood Recovery.

Thursdays

Services NSW staff will continue outreach services every second Thursday from 9 am-4 pm.

Thursday, 23 March, 6 April, 20 April etc

Fridays

Fridays 9:30 am-2:30 pm we are operating a Low-Cost Food Pantry (cash only). This is opening to the community who are flood affected and/or government pension/concession card holders.

We still have frozen meals available Monday- Friday and  Thursday and Fridays we have a range of fresh produce and baked goods available (free).

The Pottsville Beach Neighbourhood Centre is open for face-to-face appointments, including Recovery Support Service (RSS).

We link people to their own personalised recovery support worker, who can help them navigate and access services and disaster assistance packages.

Our RSS can provide:

• A dedicated support worker
• Assistance in accessing financial grants and services
• Assistance in applying for an At-Home Caravan
• Practical, personal and emotional support
• Psycho-social groups
• Information and referrals for specialist services

The recovery support workers also support people with the ongoing emotional, physical and financial impacts of floods, which may impact their longer term health and wellbeing.

Recovery support workers walk alongside affected people, acknowledging and addressing their challenges and struggles while respecting people’s strengths and their recovery choices and preferences.

The Pottsville Beach Neighbourhood Centre is located at 10b – 12a Elizabeth St, Pottsville. For more information, call 02 6676 4555 or 0476 677 422, email rss@pbnc.org.au  

Flood impacted community members experiencing mental health distress now have a Safe Haven hub in Murwillumbah offering support to those most vulnerable.

There are no appointments or referrals needed, so whether you need some peace and quiet, a chat with someone who understands what you’re going through, or some calming activities to reduce the intensity of your negative thoughts and feelings, you can walk right in.

For more information on the Murwillumbah Safe Haven, visit Safe Haven North Coast website.

If you, or someone you know, is thinking about suicide or experiencing a personal crisis or distress, please seek help immediately by calling 000 or one of these services: 

• Lifeline 13 11 14
• Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659 467
• NSW Mental Health Line 1800 011 511

The Disaster Response Legal Service (DRLS) is a free legal service that is available to anyone who has been affected by disasters.

This service, which is currently available from the Flood Recovery Centre in Murwillumbah at the Coolamon Centre.

The DRLS provides a range of assistance for disaster affected Tweed individuals with legal issues like: 

• Insurance claims and disputes
• Housing and rental problems including caravan parks – damage to premises, rent reductions, repairs, etc.
• Credit, debt, fines and financial hardship
• Eligibility for disaster welfare payments and Government grants
• Employment – unfair dismissals, entitlements,
• Replacing important documents
• Domestic violence
• Other legal problems related to disasters.

Further information and links are available on the Disaster Response Legal Service website.

The Murwillumbah Community Centre (MCC) has resumed normal services for 2023 at the Coolamon Centre in Murwillumbah.

The MCC service is also operating from the Chinderah Donation Hub, 18 Ozone Street, Chinderah on Wednesdays for Flood Recovery.

For those seeking flood recovery support, bookings are required. MCC is currently providing the following flood recovery services and activities: access to Recovery support workers (Tuesday to Thursday), Gaining Higher Ground: art therapy based group every Tuesday from 1 pm to 4 pm at Nullum House, Knox Park until Tuesday 11 April.

Gaining Higher Ground has commenced in Kingscliff at St James Hall, 41 Pearl Street. It runs every Thursday from 1 pm to 4 pm.

Participants are not required to have creative/artistic skills and do not need to come to every session. It is open to everyone in the community (over 18s)

For details or to register, contact Eva on 0484 913 018 or email evelyn@mccentre.org.au

After the Disaster is a relatable and informative podcast produced by ABC Radio and will have particular meaning to many people in our shire.
Listen to Dr Kate Brady, National Recovery Advisor to Australian Red Cross as she speaks with people who have been impacted by disaster and those who have researched the best way through.

After the Disaster covers wellbeing advice for yourself and those around you, to parenting and insurance and even dealing with memorial events.

"I cried in that first 7 minute one. Not bawling, just shed a few tears at how accurate "After the Disaster" is. And how it talked about slowing down and looking after yourself...What a great resource! Thank you!" - Murwillumbah resident

Disasters take time to recover from and being supported in that journey is important.

Making a time and a place to remember the moment of a disaster can be fraught but there are some things you can do to make the process easier. This is also covered in the podcast. Ep 5 | Memorials and Anniversaries - ABC Radio

By presenting real experiences, this podcast may help many people, impacted by the floods, realise they are not alone with their emotions.

Dial into After The Disaster More from After The Disaster - ABC Radio (More from After The Disaster - ABC Radio)

Please visit your GP who can give you a referral to personalised mental and emotional health support. 

In immediate crisis please contact:

• Mental Health Line: 1800 011 511
• Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636
• Lifeline: 13 11 14
• Lifeline text: 0477 131 114
• Kids Helpline: 1800 551 800
• Suicide Call Back Service: 1300 659 467