Member for Orange Phil Donato pictured with Premier Chris Minns.

The funding comes from the new $150 million Community Restoration Flood Fund announced by the NSW Government in the September budget to support disaster impacted communities in the Northern Rivers and Central West. The Fund is an acknowledgement that the NSW Government is standing by communities for the long haul. 

Premier Chris Minns said “The 2022 floods were an unprecedented disaster and we remain focused on helping communities recover and rebuild. It’s clear there needs to be a sustained effort and there is more we can do to continue the reconstruction program. That’s why we’re committed to practical action on the ground to help people get back on their feet, with involvement of local leaders.” 

The 2022 floods exposed several ongoing risks across the State due to our changing climate and long-standing land uses. The NSW Government recognises that recovery is not a short-term fix and requires evidence-based planning and community leadership. 

Minister for Emergency Services Jihad Dib said “When we visited the Central West we were impressed with the work undertaken by communities rebuilding, and this investment is a further step towards that recovery. This funding package will support the social and economic recovery of this important region devastated by floods”. 

While the former government made unfunded commitments to communities, the Minns Government is taking a considered approach to ensure that the commitments made are adequately funded and informed by community leaders. 

Member for Orange Phil Donato said “This additional injection from the Community Restoration Flood Fund is a welcome start on the wide range of recovery and reconstruction work that still needs to be done across the region.” 

“Despite billions of dollars being spent each year, more people are dying on our roads”. said Ron Finemore AO (Pictured)

Ron Finemore Transport Chairman Ron Finemore AO has today backed growing national calls for data-driven road funding and new Commonwealth-state funding arrangements that will oblige state governments to report on road quality and safety performance as a condition of federal funding. 

Mr Finemore AO agrees with a broad coalition of transport and medical bodies campaigning for greater use of road trauma data to create more effective road safety policies and reverse the ongoing increases in annual road deaths. 

State and territory governments hold this data, but do not share it with other governments or show it to the Australian community or motorists. 

The Federal Government must require all states and territories to release this data as a condition of receiving their share of its annual $10 billion a year road budget. 

“Australians deserve transparency so they can see whether politicians are spending their taxes on the areas of greatest need, rather than courting support in marginal seats.” 

“Using this evidence in a transparent way to drive road safety policy will make our roads safer for all motorists, pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists and the men and women who make their living on our roads as drivers,” Mr Finemore said. 

“If data is not made available to the Australian Government, Commonwealth, road infrastructure funding decisions will continue to be made in the back rooms of government and subject to the whims of politicians and the political cycle.” 

For more information info@datasaveslives.org.au