Andrew GEE MP
Your Country Your Voice
SEVEN MONTHS OF SILENCE: NATIONALS’ NEGLECT OF OUR DISASTER-HIT COMMUNITIES
DISASTER-HIT COMMUNITIES STILL EXCLUDED FROM RECOVERY FUNDING
INDEPENDENT FEDERAL MEMBER FOR CALARE RUNS ON THE BOARD FOR CABONNE √ $2 billion for Great Western highway upgrade √ $40 million for Mitchell Highway upgrades between Orange and Molong √ $2.1 million for streetscape improvements in Molong and Canowindra √ $15 million for a new Molong Multipurpose Service √ $492,410 for construction of the Eugowra Community Centre √ 24 hour rescue helicopter √ $408,000 for childcare/early learning services in Molong √ $700,000 for Bangaroo Bridge Replacement
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t is truly extraordinary that it took the National Party seven months to publicly mention the plight of storm and flood-hit communities in the Central West. From the party that claims to represent regional Australia, this is disgraceful and deeply insulting to the people of our area who’ve lost so much. We’ve had the devastating storms and floods of November last year, then the Hill End bushfires, and through it all the National Party has been invisible to our disasterhit communities. At the time of the Express going to print, neither David Littleproud nor his shadow cabinet ministers have set foot in Eugowra or the disaster-hit Cabonne shire. The National Party neglect of our communities is appalling. It’s been seven months of silence from The Nationals. Seven months of having the chance to help, but choosing not to. Seven months of playing politics, instead of helping devastated residents pick up the pieces. To add insult to injury, the NSW
√ $117,396 for resurfacing and new lighting at the East Molong Tennis Club √ $60,000 for the Molong water tank artwork √ $390,210 for new lighting and nets at Molong Rec Ground √ $308,175 for an education and info centre at the Australian National Field Days site at Borenore
National Party could’ve activated a full suite of disaster measures before the state election but failed to do so. Why wasn’t David Littleproud demanding the NSW Nationals take action? It would be a joke if the hurt and heartbreak wasn’t so real. Through all of this, the federal Nationals sat silent and were content to leave our residents to their pain and anguish while they jetted around other parts of Australia. They’ve been missing in action on the Hill End bushfires too. I believe this type of insincere charade is exactly why more and more Australians are turning away from the major parties. It’s truly bizarre that the Nationals think they can play the public for mugs and expect nobody to notice. Our residents know exactly who has been here on the ground working for them and who hasn’t. They see through the political spin. The Nationals’ seven months of silence shows they only offer a hand when it suits them. They have no shame.
FLOOD AND STORM PREPARATION MEETING
recently attended a very important Grow Molong for organising the ISES meeting in Molong hosted by the event. It was important to hear on future storm and flood of people’s experiences and get preparation.
Those present discussed the storm and flood event and how early warning systems and preparations could be improved so a disaster of this scale does not happen again. Congratulations to David Rankin from the SES, with the support of
an action plan in place so that heartbreak of this scale will not be repeated.
Thank you David for convening the event. Discussing what happened on that awful night with residents who had been evacuated and what warnings they had was very useful.
√ $2.5 million for an ambulance station in Molong
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This scheme would give hope and provide some confidence to hundreds of homeowners in Eugowra, Molong, Cudal and Canowindra who lost everything in the devastating flood. They need and deserve all the help they can get. If other flood-hit parts of To help our hardworking country the state can access this program, our communities come back stronger, region should be able to. the State and Federal Government must open up these recovery funding More funding needed for rain-bombed programs to disaster-hit areas in the infrastructure Central West. It’s deeply shocking that I recently inspected the Nyrang they haven’t. It’s a national disgrace. Creek Bridge between Eugowra and Canowindra. It is still a wreck. A lack Community Assets Program of funding to get the job done means In January, the Federal and NSW that in country NSW in 2023, we’re Governments announced the $70 forced to close roads rather than fork million Community Assets Program out to fix them. to enable flood-hit areas to repair There have been several accidents damaged community infrastructure. over the past few months at that Here’s the kicker – it’s only available to crossing, including a recent, tragic council areas hit by floods in February fatality. The situation is clearly urgent. and June 2022 – not November, when those massive storms hit Cabonne Look at the wrecked state of the Duke of Wellington Bridge in Wellington and Wellington. or the still-closed Wellington to Despite Cabonne suffering storm Dunedoo Road. and flood damage on par with the Northern Rivers, the local council is We need more funding to truly futurenot eligible to apply for the grants proof our regional infrastructure. of up to $7.5 million to fix key Moreover, we need to not just replace community facilities like playgrounds, a bridge like-for-like, but to build one which will support our communities sports fields and parks. well into the future, that can survive It’s now been months since I first future storm events. called this out. It’s time to fix it. All of these support measures for Resilient Housing Package our storm and flood hit communities Just three months after the February could have been switched on by the flood event in the Northern Rivers, previous NSW Government, including the federal and state governments the National Party, but weren’t. The launched the $741 million Resilient new state government needs to get Homes Fund - the largest home this assistance moving because the resilience program of its kind to ever disaster-hit residents of our region be delivered in Australia. This offered are being treated like second-class affected homeowners the opportunity citizens. It’s shameful and inexcusable to raise homes, retrofit them or take and it has to stop. part in the voluntary buy-back of I have contacted the new NSW their house, and recently the NSW Minister for Emergency Services and Government said it expects to issue asked him to action this support. I've about 1,100 buy-back offers. also invited him to visit our area to lmost eight months on from the November 2022 floods, devastated communities in Cabonne and Wellington are being held back from moving on, ineligible for several disaster recovery funding programs.
With many communities in Cabonne bearing the same level of destruction as the Northern Rivers, it’s outrageous that a similar scheme has not been put in place to help flood-hit locals move forward more than seven months after the disaster.
√ $2.59 million for new overtaking lanes on the Cargo Road
Our residents pay their taxes like everyone else and are entitled to the same support as other parts of the nation.
TOO LITTLE, TOO LATE?
√ $185,764 for a new amenities block and support for the Molong Showground and Society √ 47 mobile phone towers and base stations for Calare
see first hand what our residents have been through.
It’s interesting to hear that senior federal Nationals have now decided to visit our electorate, after being called out in the media. The storms and floods hit the Cabonne Shire and Wellington on the 13th and 14th of November 2022.
Andrew with SES members Doug Watson and Bridget Rice, and Julie and Les Dean from Grow Molong
It has taken them almost eight months to show up. For residents of disaster-hit areas, the visit is eight months too late.
ORANGE ELECTORATE OFFICE 1/179A Anson Street PO Box 673 Orange NSW 2800
For regular updates and news, follow me on Facebook and Instagram @andrewgeecalare
(02) 6361 7138 @ andrew.gee.mp@aph.gov.au www.andrewgeemp.com.au Authorised by Andrew Gee, Suite 1/179A Anson Street Orange, NSW 2800.
MOLONG EXPRESS, Thursday 6 July 2023
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