2022 Flood Recovery Information and Support

Final call for the Resilient Homes Program

The Resilient Homes Program is closing soon and we’re helping residents finish applications and start resilience works to strengthen and raise homes, reducing future flood risk.

Not sure if you’ve applied or are eligible?

Call 1800 844 085

Email resilienthomesprogram@reconstruction.nsw.gov.au

Find out more:

https://www.nsw.gov.au/.../our-work/resilient-homes-program

After almost three years of determined and relentless advocacy, Cabonne Council is proud to announce it has secured $2 million in funding through the Regional Development and Community Investment Program (REDCIP) to deliver a critical housing and land development project in Eugowra. This vital investment will support flood recovery and enable long term community resilience.

The announcement was made today in NSW Parliament by Premier, Chris Minns on behalf of Minister Tara Moriarty, following a question from Member for Orange, Phil Donato, highlighting the urgent need for Eugowra to have access to suitable land for residents participating in the voluntary buyback program - enabling them to remain within their community.

This funding outcome is the result of almost three years of leadership and advocacy by Cabonne Mayor Cr Kevin Beatty and Cabonne Council, with support from Member for Orange Phil Donato and Minister for Recovery Janelle Saffin.

Cabonne Council Mayor, Cr Kevin Beatty said the $2 million in funding is another significant step forward in Cabonne Council’s efforts to rebuild Eugowra.

“Eugowra was devastated by the November 2022 floods, and since day one, Council made it clear that recovery couldn’t just mean rebuilding what was lost. It had to mean creating something stronger, safer, and more sustainable for future generations.”

Despite a Resilient Lands Program being rolled out following the Northern Rivers floods, no equivalent support was initially provided to Cabonne’s flood impacted communities.

Cabonne Council identified the need for suitable serviced land in Eugowra as a top priority, and pursued the highly competitive REDCIP grant to deliver a strategic solution and support recovery.

The funding will ensure residents who wish to remain in Eugowra can do so as safely and addresses the shortage of serviced land available for relocation within the community.

Delivered in partnership with the NSW Reconstruction Authority and Housing NSW, the project will include:

• Construction of Loftus Street, Eugowra
• Installation of essential services including water, sewer, electricity, and telecommunications
• Roadworks, footpaths, and stormwater drainage
• Landscaping and public amenities

The funding is in addition to the broader Central West Recovery Package, which includes the $40 million Resilient Housing Program.

“This isn’t just about infrastructure, it is about people and keeping the Eugowra community together by giving residents the option to stay near their family and friends and ensuring Eugowra remains thriving and resilient into the future,” Cr Beatty said.

“Council never gave up on this goal, and I am incredibly proud of what we have achieved.

“I’d like to sincerely thank the NSW Government for helping source this critical funding opportunity. I also want to acknowledge the strong support of our local member, Phil Donato, and Minister for Recovery, Janelle Saffin. Their commitment to our community has been instrumental in helping to secure funding for this very deserving project. Keeping the community together through recovery is our priority, and this funding helps make that possible.”

Cabonne Council, at the October Ordinary Council meeting endorsed to contribute $500,000 towards the project as part of the grant guidelines of providing funding support for the proposed project. 

Cabonne Council continues to deliver on its commitment to flood recovery through the implementation of the Cabonne Flood Recovery Plan which was formally adopted in 2023.

The Cabonne LGA has been allocated a nominal amount of $8million in funding for the Community Assets Program, which will be used to repair, restore and better community infrastructure that was damaged during the 2022 flood event. This is part of the $25million package which is shared between Cabonne, Forbes, Lachlan and Parkes Councils. Council is currently in the process of identifying key projects and gathering information for the application process.

The $25 million Community Assets Program 2024 is co-funded by the Australian and NSW Governments and is a firm commitment to ensuring disaster impacted communities in Central West NSW have what they need to thrive.

Under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA), regional communities have existing support to repair essential public assets like roads. However, these measures do not necessarily extend to repairing damaged community infrastructure such as parks, playgrounds, walkways and places of cultural heritage, all of which contribute to a community’s sense of wellbeing. 

The program will support four, highly impacted Central West NSW local government areas (LGAs) to repair, restore and better community infrastructure directly damaged by storms and floods in August and September 2022 (Australian Government Reference Number 1030 and 1034). 

This program is part of the broader $100 million Central West Recovery and Resilience Package, co-funded by the Australian and NSW Governments under Category D of the DRFA.

This program is administered by Department of Regional NSW.

This program is funded by Australian Government and Department of Regional NSW.

Community is at the centre of the recovery effort in the Central West, with the NSW Reconstruction Authority (RA) engaging with flood affected locals to help build a shared understanding of risk in the region.

RA is working closely with local councils, residents, businesses, and community leaders on designing the Central West Housing Program, engaging with communities through information sessions, workshops, and online communication tools.

RA is seeking your input on the Central West Housing Program following the 2022 floods.

RA are using technical data and flood modelling to inform the program and asking the community to share their experiences and insights from the 2022 floods to help build a shared understanding of risk in the region. RA would like to hear your thoughts on the type of housing program that could be offered to eligible households, including raisings and retrofits to floodproofing existing dwellings as well as buybacks and relocations.

The survey has been extended until the end of April, with residents in Eugowra, Molong, Manildra, Cudal and Canowindra invited to have their say either online or via a postal survey that all residents should have received. Please contact Council's office on 6392 3200 if you require any assistance with the survey.

This consultation has concluded. 

The Resilient Homes Program is available for applications from homeowners that were impacted by the 2022 floods in the following locations:

Central West: Cabonne, Forbes, Lachlan, Parkes local government areas (LGAs) and Euabalong in Cobar LGA 

Northern Rivers: Ballina, Byron, Clarence, Kyogle, Lismore, Richmond Valley and Tweed Valley LGAs.

What is it?

The Resilient Homes Program helps communities recover from disasters. It also makes eligible homes in high-risk areas more resilient to the impacts of future disasters. This program is being delivered by the NSW Reconstruction Authority (RA).

What does it do?

The program offers money to:

• Buy back homes at high risk.
• Make homes more resilient to future floods.

This funding supports voluntary home buybacks and measures to increase resilience to future flooding in impacted communities in the Northern Rivers and Central West local government areas (LGAs).

Who can apply?

Eligible homeowners impacted by floods in these LGAs can apply:

Central West region

• Cabonne
• Forbes
• Lachlan
• Parkes
• Euabalong in Cobar

What help is available?

• Home Buyback – a buyback of the property whereby the homeowner receives a payment for the purchase of the property
• Resilient Measures:
  • Home Raising  – a grant payment of up to $100,000 (including GST) towards the cost of elevating the liveable areas of the home and associated consequential works
  • Home Rebuild – a grant payment of up to $100,000 (including GST) towards the cost of rebuilding a more resilient home where the property was destroyed or uninhabitable
  • Home Relocation – a grant of up to $100,000 (including GST) to help homeowners relocate their current home to a safer location on their property, or to another property in the region  
  • Home Retrofit – a grant payment up to $50,000 (including GST) towards the cost of retrofitting and/or repair work of on the home to incorporate flood resilient design and materials in eligible areas.

Where the estimated costs for the Resilient Measures (i.e. Home Raising, Home Rebuild, Home Relocation and Home Retrofit) is more than the available grant value, RA will match financial contributions provided by the homeowner for eligible activities (co-contribution) up to a maximum of 100% of the available grant value. 

The maximum grant and co-contribution for a single home is:

• Home Raising or Home Rebuild - $100,000 including GST plus $100,000 in co-contribution up to the maximum grant value of $200,000 in total including GST.
• Home Retrofit - $50,000 including GST plus $50,000 in co-contribution up to a maximum grant value of $100,000 in total. 

In some circumstances the RA may waive the co-contribution requirement for eligible homeowners.  

Free Home Assessments are also available for homeowners who may be eligible for Resilient Measures. In the Central West, homeowners within the Home Assessment stream will also eligible for a Home Assessment.  

Homeowners eligible for Resilient Measures may also seek a grant for costs associated with other assessment activities, such as planning documentation, feasibility, design, and development approvals, where appropriate, and up to a maximum of $20,000 including GST per property. 

Please call 1800 844 085 or email resilienthomesprogram@reconstruction.nsw.gov.au the RHP Customer Engagement Team for more information on the grant for costs.

Who is funding it?

The NSW and Australian Governments are co-funding this program:

• $880 million for the Northern Rivers region
• $40 million for the Central West region

Want to know more?

The Resilient Homes Program Guideline for each region outlines: 

• objectives
• available funding
• criteria
• assessment processes
• timeframes.

Resilient Home Program Guideline – Central West (PDF 339.24KB)

The Central West area faced two major flood events in 2022:

These events had a catastrophic impact on communities in Forbes, Parkes, Cabonne, Lachlan, and parts of Cobar, Local Government areas.

The Resilient Homes Program in the Central West is part of a larger $100 million Central West Recovery and Resilience package, which includes:

By offering options like home buybacks, raising, rebuilding, relocations and retrofitting, the Resilient Homes Program aims to reduce the impact of future floods and strengthen community resilience in these high-risk areas.

The Resilient Homes Program – Central West Engagement Report documents the approach, delivery and outcomes of the consultation undertaken to support the development of the Resilient Homes Program – Central West.