IN response to the massive flooding events over the past weeks on the eastern seaboard, 31 mayors and councillors from some of the nation’s most flood damaged regions have called on the government to do more to protect communities from tragic and costly extreme weather.

Mayors and councillors from five states released a joint statement responding to one of the worst extreme weather disasters in the nation’s history, calling for urgent action to protect their communities from worsening climate change.

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The joint statement was signed by MidCoast Mayor Claire Pontin, and Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes; neither the Mayor of Port Stephens or Port Stephens Councillors were signatories to the statement.

The statement is calling on the Federal Government to:

a. Lead the country in delivering on an ambitious emissions reduction target this decade, in partnership with state and local governments, to respond to accelerating climate change at the scale and pace required.

b. Increase funding sources to councils for responding to climate impacts, and cutting greenhouse gas emissions, including providing a minimum of $200 million a year in the form of a disaster mitigation fund and an additional $200 million over four years for a local government climate response partnership.

c. Invest in preparing before climate disasters strike and take responsibility for coordination of climate impact responses to ensure consistency and clearly delineated responsibilities between different levels of government.

d. Ensure all disaster response funding extends to all damaged assets and incorporates the principle of “betterment” to allow cities and communities to be rebuilt in a way that takes into account the inevitable future changes in climate and makes them more resilient.

e. Establish a national body, or expand the remit of an existing one, to support research on adaptation and act as a centralised hub for up-to-date climate change information.

Lismore was one region hardest hit by the recent floods.

Elly Bird, Councillor, Lismore City Council said, “If we’re to learn a lesson from the catastrophic flooding that we are now seeing happen in Australia every few years, it’s that we are severely underprepared for catastrophic events like this one.

“We urgently need to address the root cause of the heightened storm threat – climate change,” she said.

Dr Portia Odell, director of the Cities Power Partnership, Australia’s largest network of local governments taking action on climate change, said, “Local governments were on the frontlines of climate impacts and needed more support.

“We can no longer leave councils and their communities alone and with little access to essential services, and expect them to spend millions to fix the damages of delayed climate action,” said Dr Odell.

“We know that local governments lack the adequate funding and support they need to rebuild their communities in a way that strengthens resilience and takes into account the increasing climate risks.

“The Federal Government must step up to protect communities from catastrophic climate shocks.”

By Marian SAMPSON