Category: NSW News

The NSW Government has extended the length of time people can stay in emergency accommodation before they have to reapply, giving certainty to residents who have  been displaced from their homes in the flood emergency.
 
Minister for Families and Communities Natasha Maclaren-Jones said the NSW Government is committed to reducing the stress on those impacted by the floods.
 
“We are already assisting thousands of people with accommodation as these communities recover from the devastating impact of the floods,” Mrs Maclaren-Jones said.
 
“We have extended the length of time people can stay in emergency accommodation without re-applying, from seven days to 28 days, and are linking those people with the medium-term accommodation which best suits their situation.”
 
The NSW Government’s $285 million Temporary Housing Support Package has the capacity to assist around 25,000 households.
 
People displaced by the floods will soon have access to up to 16 weeks’ rental support, temporary ‘pod’ dwellings, mobile motor homes, accommodation in recreation camps, plus a housing brokerage service enabling the Australian Red Cross to work with private rental companies, such as Airbnb and Stayz, to link people with accommodation.
 
Camplify will also work with the Australian Red Cross to match disaster affected people with free caravans and campervans that owners have offered to flood victims through the Camplify site.
 
Minister for Emergency Services and Resilience and Minister for Flood Recovery Steph Cooke said the NSW Government will continue to provide co-ordinated support to individuals, households, primary producers and small businesses impacted by the flood disaster.
 
“The NSW Government is committed to ensuring flood-impacted residents and businesses have access to the support they need,” Ms Cooke said.
 
“The flood recovery is stressful enough without having to reapply for emergency accommodation every seven days, and it is crucial we give flood victims certainty around where they will be able to stay in the weeks ahead.”
 
For more information, go to: www.nsw.gov.au/floods.

The NSW Government will fast-track access to essential trauma and recovery services to communities hardest hit by the recent flooding in NSW as part of a $25 million investment.
 
NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet said this package will provide mental health support to people in flood-affected communities across the State to help them get through the recovery as they begin to rebuild.
 
“Providing immediate mental health and well-being support in recovery centres to people devastated by the floods to help them get back on their feet as soon as possible,” Mr Perrottet said.
 
“This commitment will ensure we put people in touch with the right support so they can get the help they need now and into the future.”
 
Deputy Premier Paul Toole said the investment will have an initial focus on communities across the Northern Rivers, with other areas likely to be included as the full impact of the floods becomes clearer.
 
“The task before us is complex and extensive. People’s mental health will not only be affected by the floods but by the enormity of the clean-up effort and the uncertainty it brings,” Mr Toole said.
 
“To ensure the mental health recovery effort is as coordinated, responsive and targeted as possible, we’ll work with Headspace and Lifeline to manage the response, with local input sourced from the community and local health networks.”
 
NSW Health will support the immediate mental health needs of the Northern NSW community by deploying mental health clinicians from Northern NSW, Mid North Coast and Northern Sydney Local Health Districts.
 
Teams from Hunter New England and Western NSW Local Health Districts are also being prepared to travel to northern NSW to assist.
 
Minister for Mental Health Bronnie Taylor said $5 million in grants will be allocated to non-government organisations to deliver local trauma and recovery programs so support is available long after the clean-up has finished.
 
“It is locals who know their community best, and that is why we want them to play an active role in developing initiatives and programs that will help their communities in their road to recovery,” Mrs Taylor said.
 
“We are also funding ten full-time Local Recovery Coordinators to be our eyes and ears on the ground to monitor the local mental health impacts, as well as help services better connect with people most in need.”
 
Minister for Emergency Services and Resilience and Minister for Flood Recovery Steph Cooke said the devastating floods will have a lasting impact on affected communities, and the emergency services personnel who responded.
 
“Please take care of yourselves and look out for each other because the impacts of this devastating flood and the ongoing cleanup efforts will be felt by those affected for weeks, months and in the years ahead,” Ms Cooke said.
 
Key highlights of the Wellbeing Package include:

• $7 million over three years to fund Primary Health Networks to engage both clinical and non-clinical workforce, including staff for the Safe Havens, to boost local access to psychological and clinical support;
• $5 million over three years to establish grants program for NGOs to fund trauma-based programs. Key focus on supporting young people, older residents and Aboriginal communities;
• $5 million for state-wide needs based resourcing and support;
• $3.5 million over three years to appoint Headspace and Lifeline work with affected communities to identify what each community needs;
• $3.5 million over three years to recruit 10 Local Recovery Coordinators to:
  • Coordinate mental health service delivery within their designated LGA, ensuring service providers are working with each other to plug gaps but also avoid duplication;
  • Identify and respond to emerging issues, such as increases in mental health hospital activity, self-harm or suicidal ideation;
  • Work closely with primary health initiatives, community and welfare agencies and mental health services to provide direct care and respond to local community needs and issues on the ground.
• $1 million to set up four pop-up Safe Havens in the areas hardest hit. Safe Havens are a place for people experiencing suicidal thoughts or in distress to seek refuge and support from people with lived experience. The space is welcoming and has a range of activities to help people divert their suicidal thinking. No referral is required to access a Safe Haven.

The NSW Government’s initial $25 million in mental health support will also be complimented by the Commonwealth Government’s mental health support packaged announced earlier this week.
Further mental health and well-being support will be provided to flood-affected communities across NSW as part the recovery process.

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

In the 12 days since the first disaster declarations were made for this devastating flood event, around $1.5 billion of support has been committed to the recovery from the NSW Government in partnership with the Commonwealth.
 
In addition to the financial response, on-the-ground support from NSW emergency services and the Australian Defence Force today reached 8,000 active personnel across the state, who are ensuring supplies reach communities that are still cut off by floodwaters, as well as supporting communities with the huge clean-up operation.
 
The Commonwealth and NSW Governments have also started the process of transitioning people from evacuation centres, hotels and motels, into longer-term accommodation as part of a $285 million Temporary Housing Support Package.
 
Communities impacted by the floods will have access to 16 weeks’ rental support available soon, temporary housing pods, temporary housing in recreation camps in the Northern Rivers, plus a housing brokerage service enabling the Australian Red Cross to work with private rental companies, such as Airbnb and Stayz, to help connect people with rental homes.
 
Premier Dominic Perrottet said with flood waters now receding, the NSW Government is putting every available resource in to supporting the recovery effort.
 
“Our key focus areas right now are clean-up, housing and financial supports. We know there is more to do and this is just the start of the recovery process and we will be with communities every step of the way,” Mr Perrottet said.
 
“We have close to 100 clean-up crews in action across Northern Rivers and the Hawkesbury regions, removing 4,000 tonnes of waste a day. These crews have shifted on average over the past four days, the same amount of waste that was shifted in four weeks post the February/March 2021 floods in Port Macquarie, Kempsey and Nambucca.
 
“We are rolling out our standard recovery supports as quickly as possible, as well as addressing specific needs as they arise. This is why we didn’t wait and set up our housing package ahead of time so we can assist the 2,000 people we are helping with accommodation transition into more medium-term accommodation.
 
“We’ve also announced $25 million in mental health support today, topping up numerous mental health programs to reach more people and support them through what for many has been a deeply traumatic event.”
 
Deputy Premier Paul Toole said Primary Producer grants had been activated faster than ever before, with farmers able to access grants of up to $15,000 immediately, with grants of up to $75,000 available.
 
“Our whole of Government approach is driving this rapid response to ensure affected communities are able to rebuild their lives and livelihoods, faster,” Mr Toole said.
 
“We’ve already had more than 400 applications for our primary producer grants, and I would urge others to apply. We’ve also helped farmers by delivering 1.9 tonnes of fodder.” 
 
Service NSW is taking registrations from those who expect they might need housing and has helped 30,000 people so far with everything from grants to replacing IDs with the support line open until 10pm.
 
Minister for Emergency Services and Resilience and Minister for Flood Recovery Steph Cooke said thousands of emergency services personnel have kick-started the clean-up by making roads accessible, helping with the washout of properties, and removing bulk waste.
 
“SES teams are undertaking damage assessments on households, businesses and industry premises, with close to 15,000 completed so far,” Ms Cooke said.
 
“It’s vital people know what support is available to them and I would urge everyone to visit the nearest recovery centre so then can the help they need.”
 
Resilience NSW currently has nine recovery centres open and continues to open up recovery centres in areas where emergency evacuation orders have been lifted.
 
For more information, please see nsw.gov.au/floods

A dedicated Recovery Centre will open its doors in South Windsor for the first time today, providing face-to-face support for locals affected by the current flood event.
 
Minister for Western Sydney Stuart Ayres said the Recovery Centre would assist communities transition from response into clean-up and recovery.
 
“A range of NSW Government agencies, community organisations and welfare bodies will work from the Recovery Centre to assist anyone who has been impacted by the record-breaking flooding,” Mr Ayres said.
 
“Whether it be receiving clean-up help, replacing lost documents or requesting short-term accommodation, I encourage everyone across the Hawkesbury-Nepean Valley to take advantage of this assistance.”
 
Minister for Emergency Services and Resilience and Minister for Flood Recovery Steph Cooke said the Recovery Centre is open seven days a week and will support individuals, families, farmers and business owners to find the various forms of practical support available.
 
“We will work with local communities and councils to progressively build on the services offered at the Resilience NSW operated Recovery Centres, and their doors will stay open for as long as the community needs,” Ms Cooke said.
 
Member for Hawkesbury Robyn Preston said the flooding experienced in Windsor and the surrounding towns was over one metre higher than the March 2021 flood event.
 
“We have a big recovery effort ahead of us and it’s fantastic to have a mass mobilisation of resources including personnel from the Rural Fire Service, State Emergency Service, Public Works Advisory, Resilience NSW, NSW Police Force and Australian Defence Force to help with the damage assessments and clean-up,” Ms Preston said.
 
Recovery Centres are currently operating at:

• Ballina: Ballina Surf Club, Lighthouse Beach Parade, East Ballina;
• Casino: Casino Community and Cultural Centre, 35 Walker Street, Casino;
• Grafton: Old St George Bank, 32 Prince Street, Grafton;
• Kyogle: Kyogle Memorial Institute, 131 Summerland Way, Kyogle;
• Lismore: V Block, Southern Cross University, Military Road, East Lismore;
• Mullumbimby: 55 Dalley Street, Mullumbimby;
• Murwillumbah: Murwillumbah Civic Centre Auditorium, 10-14 Tumbulgum Road, Murwillumbah; and
• South Windsor: South Windsor Family Centre, 6 Greenhills Way, South Windsor.

 
Resilience NSW will establish a Recovery Centre in Wisemans Ferry shortly.
 
For those wanting to be assisted remotely, Service NSW is operating as an online one-stop shop, with Customer Care specialists also available on the phone via 13 77 88.

A woman has been charged after allegedly dangerous and high-range drink driving with an unrestrained child in the car in the Illawarra overnight.

Police received multiple calls about 5.40pm yesterday (Friday 11 March 2022) in relation to a blue Holden Trax swerving across the road and mounting gutters while driving north on Shellharbour Road, Warilla. 

Police commenced inquiries to locate the vehicle. About 7.10pm, officers attached to Lake Illawarra Highway Patrol found the Holden on Northcliffe Drive, Warrawong. 

When the driver allegedly failed to stop as directed, police commenced a pursuit. The low-speed pursuit continued for about 6km before the driver stopped near the intersection of Windang Road and Boronia Avenue, Windang.

A five-year-old girl was found unrestrained in the front-passenger seat, physically unharmed but extremely distressed. 

A 46-year-old woman was arrested and taken to Lake Illawarra Police Station where she returned an alleged breath analysis reading of 0.263.

Her driver’s licence was immediately suspended and her vehicle was confiscated for three months, while a child-at-risk notification has been completed.

The woman has been charged with police pursuit – not stop – drive dangerously, high-range PAC, drive with unrestrained child passenger, and not stop when directed. 

She was refused bail and is due to appear in the Wollongong Bail Court today (Saturday 12 March 2022).

The girl is being cared for by family members.

A new $285 million Temporary Housing Support Package will provide accommodation support to flood victims who have lost their homes to ensure people can access more immediate and medium term accommodation support.

The housing support package will have the capacity to assist around 25,000 households and will be focused on allowing people to move out of their emergency accommodation and find a more permanent place to call home. They will also have access to up to 16 weeks rental support, by the end of March.

The package will also fund on-site pods in rural areas to allow people to stay on their properties while they rebuild, and motorhomes and cabin accommodation to ensure there is flexible accommodation to meet peoples’ varying needs.
The housing package is part of the Commonwealth and NSW Governments’ latest assistance package, which is providing more than $551.7 million for flood-affected communities, including support to small businesses, primary producers, councils, individuals, and families hard hit by the devastating floods.

Premier Dominic Perrottet said with thousands of people displaced and many homes effectively uninhabitable, getting people out of evacuation centers and hotels and into more stable accommodation is key to helping people start their long term recovery.

“This housing support package will help put a roof over the heads of the thousands of people who have lost their homes to help them get back on their feet as quickly as possible,” Mr Perrottet said.

“Rebuilding won’t be a quick process and that is why we are using a flexible approach to provide people with the help they need now and into the future so communities can rebuild the homes and businesses as quickly as possible.”

Since 22 February, 45 LGAs have been declared as disaster areas and are eligible for support through Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).

Deputy Premier Paul Toole said the accommodation support was crucial to helping flood victims begin the long road to recovery.

“This is an incredibly distressing time for many and providing additional accommodation options for those who have lost everything will help to ease some of the burden,” Mr Toole said.

“We are also providing the ability for people to stay on their properties, if possible, so they are in more familiar surroundings while they take time to consider their options.”

Treasurer Matt Kean said the NSW response would continue to be tailored to community needs as the financial costs of the floods are assessed.

“As the situation on the ground continues to evolve, so does our response. We are working night and day to get assistance where it’s needed most,” Mr Kean said.

“This is why we are extending our critical small business and primary producer grants, as well as funding solutions to the temporary housing problem faced by so many, especially in the Northern Rivers.”

Minister for Customer Service and Digital Government Victor Dominello said Service NSW was working quickly to establish the new grant package online, with extended trading hours getting help to people faster.

“Service NSW will assist DCJ in ensuring this next round of assistance gets to those who need it the most and continue to be the place where people can go to get the support and advice they need to plan for the next stage of this long recovery process,” Mr Dominello said.

Minister for Emergency Services and Resilience and Minister for Flood Recovery Steph Cooke said the NSW Government will continue to provide support to individuals, families, farmers and business owners.

“As flood waters recede, we are setting up Recovery Centres as one-stop shops for people to access clean-up services, financial assistance, insurance and legal support, business support and mental health services,” Ms Cooke said.

“The destruction caused by the floodwaters will take weeks and months to clean up, and we will continue to stand side-by-side with our flood-affected communities in the Northern Rivers region.”

The $551.7 million package includes:

• $285 million Temporary Housing Support package that includes;
  • $248 million rental support scheme, providing 16 weeks rental support, which will be accessible by the end of March;
  • $20 million to extend the temporary housing program to allow people to stay on their land in a temporary ‘pod’ dwelling while rebuilding;
  • $10 million to supply temporary accommodation through mobile motor homes, with the first 20 to be delivered by March 13;
  • $4.5 million to support the Housing Flood Recovery Service to manage long term housing needs and recovery;
  • $2.5 million to provide temporary housing through the hiring of recreation camps in the Northern Rivers. Locations include Camp Koinonia, Lake Ainsworth Sport & Recreation Centre and Camp Drew with capacity for up to 270 people and on-site facilities for cooking and hygiene, and;
  • $150,000 for a housing brokerage service enabling the Australian Red Cross to work with private rental companies, such as Airbnb and Stayz, to help connect people with rental homes.
• $90 million to assist with the clean-up and removal of flood and storm related damage, debris and green waste for the additional 28 disaster declared LGAs enabling them to work with Resilience NSW and NSW Government agencies to coordinate clean-up activities in their communities;
• $75,000 primary producer grants extended to all disaster declared LGAs;
• $50,000 small business and not-for-profit grants extended to all disaster declared LGAs;
• $1 million grants to additional 28 impacted councils to assist with their immediate social, built, economic and environmental needs.

 A full list of currently open Recovery Centres is available at: https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/floods/recovery-centres-and-hubs.

Please contact Service NSW on 13 77 88, visit nsw.gov.au/floods or speak to evacuation centre staff.

Dedicated community Recovery Centres are now operating in Ballina, Casino, Kyogle, Lismore, Mullumbimby and Murwillumbah to provide face-to-face support for locals affected by the unprecedented flood event.
 
Premier Dominic Perrottet said Resilience NSW staff at each Recovery Centre would help flood victims navigate through the tough recovery process following unprecedented floods.
 
“NSW Government agencies plus a range of community organisations and welfare bodies will work from these Recovery Centres to assist individuals, businesses, farmers and landholders dealing with the fallout from the record-breaking storms and flooding,” Mr Perrottet said.
 
“We have seen communities devastated by the floods and these recovery centres in Northern NSW are vital to supporting locals.”
 
Deputy Premier Paul Toole said the Recovery Centres would allow impacted locals to get the help they need to get back on their feet as quickly as possible.
 
“It’s difficult to know where to even begin after losing a home or a business, and these Centres will provide on-the-ground practical advice for things like how to get a roof over your head or replace lost documents, how to get clean-up assistance or financial and wellbeing support,” Mr Toole said.
 
“These floods have been tough enough for too many, and these one-stop shops will hopefully make it that little bit easier to get support right now.”
 
Minister for Emergency Services and Resilience and Minister for Flood Recovery Steph Cooke said the Recovery Centres are staffed by expert personnel who can guide individuals and families to the various forms of support available.
 
“I urge everyone in our flood-affected communities to register for the clean-up services, financial assistance, insurance and legal support, business support and mental health services already being offered as part of our multi-agency response,” Ms Cooke said.
 
Additional Recovery Centres will be established across the State as communities begin to transition from response into the clean-up and recovery processes.
 
For those wanting to be assisted remotely, Service NSW is operating as an online one-stop-shop, with Customer Care specialists also available on the phone via 13 77 88.

More than one million kilograms of fodder has made its way to flood-affected farms in the Northern Rivers to help impacted primary producers feed their livestock.
 
Deputy Premier Paul Toole said the Agricultural and Animal Services Functional Area hotline (1800 814 647) has received more than 800 calls from farmers requesting emergency fodder, aerial surveillance and veterinary assistance for flood-affected livestock in less than a week.
 
“Many farmers hit by these record floods have not only lost their homes, but also their livelihoods – and we’re throwing every resource at helping them get back on their feet as quickly as possible,” Mr Toole said.
 
“Primary producers across the Northern Rivers face a long road to recovery, and this fodder – currently being sourced from the NSW Northern Tablelands and North West regions – will make a real difference on the ground right now.
 
“Already, more than one million kilograms of fodder has touched down in places like Lismore, Casino and Grafton, including about 135,000 kilograms of that delivered by air to places with limited access.”
 
Minister for Agriculture Dugald Saunders said the NSW Government has also made $15,000 available immediately for impacted farmers through the jointly funded Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.
 
“The full extent of the damage from these floods is yet to be revealed, with communities still underwater and livestock and crop inspections still to be conducted,” Mr Saunders said.
 
“That’s why I urge landholders to register with the hotline so we know where support and assistance is required, without them risking their safety.”
 
Emergency fodder for flood-affected livestock is also available at the following North Coast sites:
 

• Casino – Primex site on Springrove Rd
• Alstonville – McGregor Gourlay, 28 Kays Lane
• Grafton – McGregor Gourlay, 42 Hyde St, South Grafton
• Grafton – Norco Rural, 19-21 Queen St
• Kyogle – Harley 7 Co Agricentre, 142 Summerland Way

 
As floodwaters recede and transport routes open up, additional emergency fodder distribution points will be established.
 
Farmers and community members are also urged to report stranded, lost, injured or deceased livestock to the hotline so these animals can be assessed, attended to, or removed.    
 
The 1800 814 647 hotline is jointly run by the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) and Local Land Services (LLS) and continues to receive a large volume of calls. A dedicated email has also been created for the hotline with land holders now able to lodge requests by emailing aasfa@emergency.dpi.nsw.gov.au

A police officer has been charged following an investigation into an alleged sexual assault last year.

On Friday 17 December 2021, officers attached to the Professional Standards Command commenced an investigation into reports of an alleged sexual assault in Sydney’s CBD.

Following inquiries, a 30-year-old male constable – attached to a command in the Central Metropolitan Region – was arrested at a Greystanes address today (Wednesday 9 March 2022).

He was taken to Fairfield Police Station and charged with sexual intercourse without consent.

The man was granted conditional bail to appear before Fairfield Local Court on Monday 4 April 2022.

His employment status remains under review.