Formed the Mullumbimby Flood Emergency Action Group immediately after the February-March 2022 floods to support each other as flood impacted residents.

Expanded into the Byron Flood Emergency Action Group (BFEAG) across the Byron Shire due to the lack of traction with the Mullumbimby Flood Emergency Action Group.

Submitted a co-signed open letter to the Prime Minister and Premier, demanding the promised funding for the Resilient Homes Program. The letter was co-signed by 40 organisations and requested:

• Joint funding to cover the $700m shortfall for the Resilient Homes Program before the end of 2023.
• Clear and appropriate timelines for the delivery of 4,000 retrofits, house-raises, and 2,000 buybacks for homes affected by the 2022 flood event.
• Ensuring the NSW Reconstruction Authority operates transparently, communicates sensitively with community members, and prioritises community control of disaster recovery.

After writing to the Prime Minister, the group received a response stating that the NSW Premier would be requested to allocate more funding for flood recovery efforts.

Hosted a community forum in February 2024, where residents, politicians, organisers, charities, and sector representatives came together to deliver solutions through consensus decision-making. This forum created actionable steps to secure full funding for flood recovery from the government.

United 77 organisations across the Northern Rivers for a collective voice for action, forming the Community Disaster Action Group (CDAG) in 2024 to advocate for fully-funded, community-led recovery, adaptation, and preparedness.

Secured the Prime Minister’s support for full flood recovery funding, with the PM stating that the NSW Premier would be requested to allocate more funding for flood recovery efforts.

Developed a comprehensive “Community-led Flood Recovery/Adaptation Proposal” endorsed by 27 organisations, calling for expanded eligibility, full funding, urgent action, and community empowerment in decision-making. Presented this proposal to MPs on May 24th.

Conduct regular meetings with NSWRA, NEMA, elected representatives, and MPs to ensure community engagement and prioritisation, as well as transparency and the community’s best interests from government agencies.

Joined the National Climate Impacted Communities Alliance, joined other organisations in Canberra and attended the Climate case in Cairns.

• Actively participating in the alliance to advocate for community involvement in the National Adaptation Plan and raising awareness about the ongoing challenges faced by the region in the aftermath of the 2022 floods.

Engaged in active media campaigning to raise awareness and accountability, featuring in various news outlets such as The Guardian, Lismore City News, The Echo, and Lismore App.

• Ie Broke the story in The Guardian that only one person received a grant to raise their home two years after the NSW Northern Rivers floods.

Submitted concerns and recommendations to the Joint Select Committee’s statutory review of the NSW Reconstruction Authority Act 2022, highlighting the Act’s failure to achieve its purpose of promoting community resilience.

Secured the Prime Minister’s acknowledgment that “government agencies should operate transparently, communicate sensitively and prioritise community control of disaster recovery” through persistent advocacy.

Provided the government with information on direct deliberative democracy to inform the new community engagement mechanism.

Conducted meetings with the NSWRA, NEMA, and local MPs to discuss the community’s concerns and advocate for changes to the RHP eligibility criteria, full funding for flood recovery, and improved transparency and community engagement.

Secured a commitment from Janelle Saffin, the State MP for Lismore, to request changes to the RHP eligibility criteria to make them more inclusive and fit-for-purpose for the Northern Rivers region.

Advocated for Janelle Saffin, local MPs and Mayors to send a letter requesting an extra $250 million from the state for flood recovery, with the intention of asking the federal government to match the funds.

Provided information and resources on deliberative democracy to the NSWRA to inform their new community engagement mechanism.

Arranged follow-up meetings with Janelle Saffin, the NSWRA, and newDemocracy to discuss the implementation of a direct deliberative democracy process in the recovery efforts.