Today was the first local visit of the Minns Government 're-set' regarding the Northern Rivers Recovery post-February 28, 2022, flood with a particular focus on the NRRCs Resilient Homes Program.

From NSW Member for Lismore Janelle Saffin's introduction to Minister for Emergency Services Jihad Dib's closing comments, the point was made that this was a listening visit.

Minister Dib along with Minister for Planning & Public Spaces Paul Scully took a tour of the Northern Rivers this morning that included Woodburn, Coraki, Wardell and Broadwater. This afternoon it was visiting Lismore residents with more meetings tonight and tomorrow so the pair could gather as much community input as possible.

The agenda was organised by the relevant local MPs so Janelle Saffin for Lismore as they know their communities intimately and so are across their concerns.

If the media and the community were looking for answers, then they were always going to be disappointed as this was always going to be one of the first steps in the 're-set' following feedback from all NRs local MPs and Mayors that the current structure and progress was not working.

If anyone was looking for a sign of a commitment to Tranche 2 funding, again, nothing was forthcoming today.

"We've heard really loud and clear today, yesterday and last week about the importance of the funding. Now we know that we've got this funding envelope right now but some of the things that have been really interesting that have come out today have also been the idea that not every one of the problems that people are experiencing in their communities is going to be resolved by additional funding. Obviously, our job as Minister Scully and myself is to be able to report back to be able to speak to the Premier to be able to speak to our Cabinet colleagues about what we've seen, what we've experienced and the community feel and the community expectation," Minister Dib answered the direct funding question.

When it was raised again later, Minister Scully told the media, "There's no one answer. Right? A lot of people have seen Tranche 2 as part of the solution. A lot of people have raised issues around making sure infrastructure is more easily able to be rebuilt, people have raised flood mitigation adaptation measures that need to be done. People have also pointed out the fact that there's a disconnect between some of the business programs and where that support might need to be done."

"So yes, I know a number of people think Tranche 2 is very, very important and it will be important for a lot of people but what that Tranche 2 looks like, what its components are made up of, what else might need to come along in the three to six to 12 months and beyond of the recovery process is part of the exercise we're doing here today."

The final words were from Minister Dib, "People want to see action. We're going to make sure that we get it."

Now, we wait to see what form that action takes and when it will be delivered.