At the April Richmond Valley Council meeting, councillor Lyndall Murray had the questions she posed to the NSW Reconstruction Authority and council answered.
Some of these questions were asked in February, some at the March meeting.
Councillors had a confidential meeting on Tuesday, April 8 with the Reconstruction Authority and the responses below are based on the information provided at that meeting.
IndyNR.com has summarised the answers for readability and included the questions most relevant to the community. See the agenda with answers to all the questions here.
Ms Murray said she was “underwhelmed” with some of the responses from the Reconstruction Authority.
She said the response about the dollar value of funding “could only be seen as gaslighting.”
“People are getting the same script of replies,” Ms Murray said.
She said the responses were indirect and partial and fail to address the questions she asked.
Councillor Robert Hayes said the Reconstruction Authority was holding back information from the council.
“And we can’t tell the community,” he said.
“We get a lot of info but not answers. We’re not getting the answers.”
Here are the questions and answers. Readers can decide for themselves if the answers are adequate.
Questions for the Reconstruction Authority regarding the $5million Repair to Return program and undisclosed funding amounts:
If any funds were allocated to the Richmond Valley, what amount was spent and on how many homes?
Response: Partial restoration and essential plumbing repairs have been completed on 102 homes in Richmond Valley. This represents 41 per cent of the total number of homes repaired through the Repair to Return program to date, across seven Northern Rivers LGAs.
Will the Reconstruction Authority agree to attend an open meeting in Woodburn, Coraki and Broadwater to discuss the next phase of rolling out the remaining House Raise & Retro Refit grant streams?
Response: RA is working with councils to plan community engagement sessions in the coming months across the region. These sessions will provide an opportunity for homeowners to meet with builders and council representatives to progress resilient measures works.
Can the council arrange a meeting with concerned community members to discuss why water in the Bungawalbin flats affecting Swan Bay, New Italy, Ellangowan, and surrounding areas, is not draining?
Response: Floodplain management is a function of Rous County Council. Following significant rainfall events such as Cyclone Alfred, and moderate to major flood levels the Richmond Valley floodplains serve the purpose of holding water while the river and creek levels subside, with the floodplains then gradually emptying out.
Could council staff meet with Coraki residents to collect feedback on stormwater and sewerage issues along Bridge Street, Richmond Street, behind Union Street, and surrounding areas, and then compile a report on the system’s effectiveness?
Response: The general manager has committed to meeting with a group of residents who raised concerns about stormwater management in Coraki.
Read about a Coraki plumber’s drainage plan for Coraki
Can council staff investigate or write to the relevant agency regarding the recent fish kills and blackwater incidents, and report whether the blackwater poses a toxic risk to human health?
Response: These matters, while of interest to the council and our community, are not council’s responsibility. Blackwater incidents are unfortunately a regular occurrence following flooding events on floodplains that are used for cropping and other agricultural activities. It is a complex issue that is difficult to resolve.
Can council ask the relevant agency for a report on the health of the Richmond River before and after the impacts of the fish kills as a result of Cyclone Alfred?
Response: Council will seek this information once the relevant history and reporting and the responsible agency is confirmed.
Where are the new gauges promised for Bungawalbin?
Response: River/creek gauges are not a council responsibility. The council will seek information through the Local Emergency Management Committee to determine where the flood gauges are located and advise our councillors and communicate in a future community newsletter.
Will all priority homes mapped 1-4 receive a grant and what is the timeline to deliver these in full?
Response: The Resilient Homes Program is a voluntary program that provides financial support for eligible homeowners to minimise their impact from future floods. Grants are provided to homeowners through an application process. RA is working with homeowners eligible for the program in the Priority 1-4 areas as mapped and within the $880m budget for the program. The RHP is scheduled to conclude in 2027.
Of the total number of homes affected by the 2022 flood, how many promised grants have been approved and distributed across the three Resilient Homes Grant streams?
Response: In the Richmond Valley LGA, a total of 1256 homeowners registered initially, and 247 of them then applied for the Resilient Homes Program. Of these, 59 buyback offers have been made to date. Another 47 applications were eligible for the Resilient Measures stream, leading to 37 home assessments being completed and 9 grant offers issued. Several applications are still progressing through eligibility assessments whilst others have been determined to be ineligible or not prioritised under the program guidelines.
How much of the $790 million has been distributed, with a breakdown by postcode, priority level, and the average time taken for approval?
Response: To date, the RHP has made offers to almost 900 homeowners for buybacks across the Northern Rivers, which means more than 60% of funding has been allocated. There have been 59 buyback offers made in the Richmond Valley LGA to date. A breakdown by suburb is not appropriate, to protect confidentiality, however applications were assessed from Casino, Coraki, Woodburn, and Broadwater.
Provide clear details about the retreat program, including how people can apply and the timeline for its rollout across properties over five hectares. Will the funding be equivalent to the house raise grant stream? If not, why?
Response: The RHP has a Large Lots Policy. The Retreat grant is available to homeowners where the residential dwelling is within a mapped high-risk priority area; or was destroyed or recommended for demolition as a result of the 2022 floods.
What is the process for RA agents in connecting applicants to mental health services, and how many individuals have been referred to the police for welfare checks in the Richmond Valley?
Response: Information about Recovery Support Services is available on the NSW Government website. The Recovery Support Services provide a dedicated support worker and links to other programs and services in the community for affected parties. Where RA staff have concerns for a person’s welfare they will contact support services.
Can we follow up with the relevant agency to confirm the revised date for the outcome of the Woodburn IGA’s business grant application?
Response: We understand that the outcomes of this program are soon to be released and applicants will be informed directly.
Read the full list of questions and answers from the April 15 meeting here.
This article appeared on indyNR.com on 5 May 2025.
