Anger at feds: ‘Never here when needed’
TWELVE months ago Jay Lennon, 73, packed all his valuable possessions into his four-wheel drive with plans to settle down for good in Mullumbimby.
In the past fortnight, he has haplessly watched those hopes and dreams wash away with the floodwaters that took many of his sentimental and personal belongings.
All he managed to salvage as the deluge overwhelmed his home was a push bike and a few items of clothing.
Despite that, Mr Lennon is among thousands of residents across the Byron, Tweed, Ballina and Kyogle shires to be denied additional financial aid by the Morrison government – his trauma deemed less severe to those living in nearby flood-battered areas.
“I went to bed about 7.30pm the night the floods hit thinking it was fine,” he said.
“At 10.30 there was clatter outside as everyone starts putting things up.
“But all the warnings still said low-tide was expected so I still didn’t think it would be necessary.
“At 2.30 my flatmate woke me up and alerted to me the water coming in the garage. In an hour and a half, it went from toe-deep to calf-deep.”
Water quickly consumed the ground level of his home, forcing Mr Lennon and his six housemates to flee upstairs where they remained for a week – cramped and in shock – without telecommunication services.
“The water just kept going until at least four feet above the floor. Just high enough to wash everything off my office desk,” he said.
The water reached the windscreen of his car. “It’s a 4WD. It’s not like it hasn’t got wet before, but the electronics were gone. Same with two other people in my house.”
Mr Lennon’s house is for now deemed unlivable and will require around-the-clock work to ensure the group can eventually return home.
“I’m resigned to the job that lies ahead now, but there was a period of shock where we just ran around in circles not knowing which way was up,” he said.
Additional disaster relief
payments would help ease the burdens his small township faces.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Wednesday visited Northern NSW to announce the additional payments would be delivered in two more instalments of $1000 to flood-impacted residents in Lismore, Richmond Valley and Clarence Valley.
Mr Lennon said people could start over again if given additional relief payments: “It could help with emergency accommodation. It could help me get another car.
“The federal government should hide their head in shame. They can spend $10bn on a stupid submarine that we don’t need and not one more penny on a disaster relief that people actually need.”
Asked whether he felt abandoned by the leaders elected to run the nation, Mr Lennon replied: “I wouldn’t say a sense of abandonment, I don’t think there’s ever been a connection.”
“Now when we have these
disasters that lack k of connection re- ally shows.
“When you u need them, where e are they? They y are ready to help p you when it’s elec- tion time but after r that where do they y go?”
Mr Lennon will relocate to Brisbane for a month while he tries to figure out what his future looks like.
The National Recovery and Resilience Agency says the excluded shires could soon be eligible for payments as damage assessments continue across the Northern Rivers.
“We are actively considering further impact data as we have it to hand to determine whether we need to extend that support for the three LGAS to others,” a spokeswoman said.
“This includes impact and other data from Treasury, from insurers, from local government and state government, and the Australian
Climate Service.” Service” She defenddefend ed Mr Morrison’s decision to name only Richmond Valley, Clarence Valley and Lismore residents as eligible, saying the three LGAS were identified as being most affected.
A number of factors were considered: the proportion of the population estimated to be in the flood area, the extent of the flood area, the percentage of the population which has sought assistance through the Disaster Recovery Payment and the number of homes rated as moderately or severely damaged, or destroyed.
“We are also working with the NSW and Queensland governments to identify what additional support may be required,” the spokeswoman said.