State and federal governments must prioritise funding for community organisations to ensure
communities affected by disasters such as the Lismore flood receive help in a timely manner,
according to Resilient Lismore executive director Elly Bird.
Resilient Lismore, which formed in the wake of the 2017 flood, has over the past 12 months
delivered millions of dollars’ worth of assistance to Northern Rivers residents, recruited and
coordinated volunteers, solicited donations and delivered building projects to help flood survivors return to their homes.
“We’re doing what we can but we can’t do more without further resourcing from government,” Ms
Bird said. “We urgently need more funding in order to deliver our community rebuild work, from
both state and federal governments.”
The Northern Rivers Reconstruction Corporation (NRRC), the NSW Government body responsible for
leading the recovery and reconstruction of housing, essential assets and infrastructure in flood impacted areas, has indicated it will take up to five years to roll out its programs.
As a grassroots organisation, Resilient Lismore has been actively helping Northern Rivers residents since February 2022. In the last year it has delivered more than $3.5 million worth of volunteer aid, including nearly 14,000 volunteer deployments and almost 85,000 volunteer hours. The small, volunteer-powered group has undertaken more than 3,600 clean-up and rebuild jobs and conducted nearly 600 door-to-door wellbeing check-ins. It has facilitated about 2,500 tool loans and helped residents begin to rebuild their homes and lives.
“Communities need to be able to support each other. While we’re waiting for the NRRC, Resilient Lismore and other organisations are getting on with the job,” Ms Bird said.
“Government needs to recognise the importance of resourcing community-led initiatives for this
recovery. The NRRC is saying it will take up to five years for their programs to be fully rolled out, whereas Resilient Lismore is out there in the community making an impact right now.”
Resilient Lismore’s Two Rooms project involves building walls in two rooms so locals can get back into their devastated homes. (See https://www.floodhelpnr.com.au/two-rooms for more.) The
project is an example of the practical assistance and immediate impact a community organisation such as Resilient Lismore can deliver. More funding would make an enormous difference in the lives of people still trying to put the pieces together a year down the track.