Veterans’ hub a step closer

THE ESTABLISHMENT of a Veterans’ and Families’ Hub in the Tweed is one step closer, as the process to select an organisation to establish and manage the hub reaches another milestone.

Following a successful grant application, the Australian government has awarded RSL LifeCare Veteran Services, supported by RSL NSW, $50,000 to develop a business case to establish the Tweed/North Coast Hub.

coverage maps of all the alternate sites they have considered over the years and if they are on council land we will consider them.

“We know that this is a really important issue, my own family is also directly impacted so I know the problem is real and impacts on people’s ability to do business and communicate with their families.

“It is important people remember in an emergency that Triple-0 calls can usually still be made with bad or no reception.”

Cr Cherry said she put forward two sites, one on private property where the radio tower is on Hazelwood Drive, only 900m from the proposed site, where she believes the landowner is willing to host the tower.

The other one was council’s Pottsville Reservoir site.

“Both of these seemed to be better than placing it in a site that was chest deep in water during the 2022 flood,” the mayor told The Weekly.

“The last thing we need is telecommunications that fail again in our next emergency.

“The mapping the telcos showed me indicated there are other possibilities, so let’s try to get a solution as soon as possible. Enough is enough.”

The business case will outline the operational and management plans for a new Veterans’ and Families’ Hub, tailored to the needs of the local community.

Hub services may include mental and physical health services, wellbeing support, advocacy, employment, housing, homelessness support, and social connection.

Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Matt Keogh (pictured below) said the government does not want to take a “cookie-cutter approach” with hubs around the country.

“The opportunity for enhanced stakeholder consultation enables hub services to be designed so they best meet the needs of the local veteran community which can be maintained and sustained for many years to come,” he said.

Member for Richmond Justine Elliot said with this funding, RSL LifeCare Veteran Services, supported by RSL NSW, will now take the next steps in delivering a Veterans’ and Families’ Hub by developing a business case.

“We have a large ex-service population in the region with more than 3,000 veterans and families, including many older veterans and war widows,” she said.

“Having tailored veteran support and services accessible locally are so important to improving the health, wellbeing, and economic outcomes of those who bravely served our nation.

“As your strong voice in the Albanese Labor Government, I’m proud we are taking the next steps to deliver a Veterans’ and Families’ Hub here on the North Coast.”