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Seniors celebrated through art at St John’s primary
The NSW Government say they will provide flood-impacted renters, landlords and homeowners with cash grants to help replace appliances, reconnect utilities and make repairs. Under the scheme, households that have been declared as damaged or destroyed by the SES, and are unable to claim on insurance, will be eligible for grants of up to $20,000. Those who applied for the means tested Disaster Relief Grant are not eligible. The program is available across the Hawkesbury, Ballina, Byron, Clarence Valley, Kyogle, Lismore, Richmond Valley
and Tweed Local Government Areas. According to NSW Liberal Premier, Dominic Perrottet, the funds can go towards any clean-up costs to restore housing to a habitable condition, such as: ‘Inspection and safe reconnection of utilities, such as electrical, gas, water, hot water and sewerage equipment not otherwise the responsibility of utility companies; Necessary replacement or repairs to damaged essential household goods such as refrigerators, ovens, washing machines and microwaves; Necessary replacement or repairs to damaged equipment such as computers
and tools; Replacing other essential household contents; Moving to a new property; Necessary structural repairs including roof, flooring, walls, fittings (owner-occupier/owner)’.
Avail in coming weeks The grants will be available in the coming weeks, and applicants can register to be notified via www.nsw. gov.au/floods. In Lismore on Monday, NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet said the grants would help many residents with damaged dwellings get back to their homes sooner.
AUSTRALIA’S ECONOMIC PLAN Employment’s up, so we’re taking the next step. There are now 260,000 more people in work than before COVID. And Australia performed better than major advanced economies through the pandemic. That’s why we’re taking the next step.
To find out more, visit economicplan.gov.au
Joey, Will, Antonia, and Tommy all brought portraits of their grans to the Mullum Library. Tommy even brought his nana, Alma. Photo Jeff ‘Actually A Grandfather Too’ Dawson Students at Mullum’s St John’s Primary School are appreciating older people in a new way – through art. Students recently painted portraits of their grandparents to mark NSW Seniors Week (March 25 – April 3), and they were encouraged to think about the contributions of seniors to the
community. Not-for-profit organisation, Social Futures, organised the portrait painting exercise, which aims to depict an older person in a student’s life, such as a grandparent or neighbour. The Mullumbimby Library exhibited the students’ paintings during Seniors’ Week.
Byron biz on edge for Easter as mop-up continues ▶ Continued from page 1 was the road to Ballina on the Broken Head/Coast Road, while Shirley Street and Ewingsdale Road both flooded, rendering Byron temporarily isolated.
SGB impacted again Inundation was recorded in South Golden Beach, and the makeshift road to Upper Main Arm was again cut after rain eroded the efforts by Council’s roadwork crews last month. Council staff said that the amount of rain that fell ‘would ordinarily have
caused flooding in Byron Bay, but the already soaked catchment is believed to have exacerbated the problem with no water being absorbed into the ground’. A statement reads, ‘The intensity of the rain was beyond the capacity of Council’s drainage pipe network’. ‘In addition to this, the level of the ocean is currently higher than normal owing to high tides, so water flowing out of Belongil Creek and Tallow Creek was slowed considerably when the ocean was pushing against it.’
13.3 million
+260 , 000 More people in work than before COVID
13 million
March 2020 - January 2022 Data: ABS Labour Force, Australia
Authorised by the Australian Government, Canberra.
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