Federal Member for Page Kevin Hogan released a statement in reply to this morning's announcement by the Federal Labor Government of a further $90 million added to the Resilient Homes program.

The total investment from both state and federal governments is $880 million.

The Northern Rivers Reconstruction Corporation (NRRC) began a strategy of removing those in danger from the floodplain. They identified 2,000 homes and deemed them ‘unsafe’. Yet after the completion of buybacks, maybe 800 to 900 of the 2000 homes identified by the NRRC will have been bought back.

Their strategy of withdrawing from the floodplain has failed. Some people started putting money back into their homes and commenced renovations immediately. Others decided to sell their properties on the private market. The new property owners did not qualify for the buyback. Some families who accepted a buyback, have bought back on the floodplain. This all shows the failure of the program.

Flood mitigation is the only strategy that will provide safety and a sustainable future. This is where Governments should be focusing their attention. 

The Government on all levels must act. Mistakes have been made and significant amounts of public funds have been spent with marginal return. This can be rectified with a commitment to flood mitigation and a vision strategy for the region.

The Federal and State Governments have today announced a combined $180 million for the Resilient Homes Program.

Pouring more money into a program plagued by delays and inefficiencies will not provide the long-term security that our families and businesses desperately need. 

$880 million has been allocated to this program. None of this money has lowered the level of the next flooding event. This means no CBD business or industrial estate occupant, on the flood plain is any safer.