Support Lismore residents rebuild their lives. Establish a Reconstruction Commission
Petitioner:
Mrs Shelley Oldham
| Member:
Saffin, Janelle
| No. of Signatories:
937
| Date closed:
26/04/2022
To the Speaker and Members of the Legislative Assembly,
Lismore residents are in the midst of a full-scale humanitarian catastrophe. This is now a major housing crisis. Current government benefits support people in the short term. Our community needs a dedicated, independent body to streamline recovery and reconstruction to ensure we have a future.
Evidence from successful disaster responses shows we need a Reconstruction Commission.
Lismore is no stranger to disasters so we know the pain, sweat and blood it takes to rebuild our lives. After the 2017 floods, we were left to compete for grants against our better resourced neighbouring councils. Such a competitive grant based system will not work for us this time - we are poorer and even less resourced.
The devastation that has hit our region is incomprehensible. Some of our elderly are now back in their mouldy damp houses, people with no other option have taken their children back into houses that have been deemed unsafe, debates have begun about flood mitigation and our future.
Our community came together when the floods hit, and Australia stood with us. Now many members of the community that have stood up and worked tirelessly are now exhausted, confused and looking for leadership from Government. 15,200 members of the community have signed a non conforming petition from change.org/rebuildlismore 80% of these people are from NSW
