DEAR News Of The Area,

‘GRANT’ season has commenced and of course conveniently coincides with ‘election’ season. This fortnight, funds appear for planting trees on newly cleared land for a 25-year future harvest.

There is (NSW) flood money for Council to better understand flood risk and management. Renewable Energy grants were received by eight community groups to exchange old lights for LEDs.

Is this the depth of major, visionary support we need to plan our region’s sustainable future?

But wait there might be hope yet…

In 2019, $4 billion federal tax dollars were allocated into an Emergency Response (Natural Disaster) Fund to help deal with the effects of natural disasters.

That fund has been sitting, idly growing under the LNP for four years and today totals $5 billion dollars.

The Disaster Fund was created with $4 billion dollars from the Education Fund, an even older election period allocation, which was also not spent as promised.

Is it possible that with an Independent candidate again standing for election in Cowper that some of the disaster fund might actually see the light of day during the current grant/election season?

Cowper is a proven flood and bushfire prone electorate with severe natural disasters having occurred here since the last election.

Negligible federal funding has assisted in research, infrastructure, or recovery programs over the past four years.

Will our region finally receive significant federal grant funding for flood and bushfire prevention, management and rebuilding following these events?

Climate change events are predicted to increase in frequency.

Shouldn’t we be acting right now to develop targeted mitigation and management planning for our increased safety and recovery programs from flood and bushfire in Cowper?

Will we soon see a press release (with MP photo) about a post-election future allocation to Cowper following the four-year stagnation of the 2019 promised funds?

Perhaps Cowper voters should consider electing a committed and truly representative Independent who can act in Parliament to force the LNP to release $5 billion dollars for improving disaster planning and recovery to Cowper and other hard-hit regions of Australia.

Yours in hope for a power change in Parliament,
Sue SEATON,
Coffs Coast.