Hundreds head home as evacuation centres close

THE last of the evacuation centres has closed this week as people returned home to inspect potential damage from wild winds and heavy rain.

Twenty-five centres were set up across the Northern Rivers and Mid North Coast as residents responded to evacuation orders by the NSW State Emergency Service during Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred.

Five centres remained open during the week at Kingscliff, Murwillumbah, Coraki, Ocean Shores and Lismore.

Lismore MP Janelle Saffin spent time during her briefings at the Southern Cross University Centre at Lismore.

She has been part of the response team as part of her role as parliamentary secretary for disaster recovery in NSW.

“Over the past week we saw evacuation centres rapidly stood up at Lismore’s Southern Cross University, schools, RSLs, TAFEs and sports clubs to provide a temporary solution for people evacuating floods,” she said.

“I want to thank our public servants and volunteers, a mix of locals and good folk from further afield, who worked tirelessly to keep our communities safe and dry.”

More than 1530 people registered for assistance at evacuation centres across north-east NSW.

About 430 community members were supported with emergency accommodation in hotels and motels.

The centres were supported by more than 130 Department of Communities and Justice and Education staff as well as local NGO partners and volunteers.

For people unable to return home due to flooding or severe storm damage, Homes NSW will work with local services to provide interim temporary accommodation options.

For those that are homeless or at immediate risk of homelessness, contact the nearest DCJ Housing Office or contact Link2home om1800 152 152.

“Communities across the North Coast are still doing it tough in the wake of ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred, we want to thank them for their patience, support and efforts during this challenging period,” housing minister Rose Jackson said.