Ed,

Friday’s joint announcement by PM Albanese and NSW Premier Perrottet of the $800m buyback scheme has flood victims asking, and understandably so, “When will it start?”

Let’s hope it starts a whole lot sooner rather than later. 

However, if previous experiences are anything to go by, it would be unwise to hold your breath.

The PM and Premier’s joint announcement caused me (and I’m sure, plenty of others) to recall a previous flood-related announcement made by our Premier.

On August 17, when the NSW government released and responded to the Report of the NSW Independent Flood Inquiry, Premier Perrottet grabbed the headlines with his announcement that developments on NSW flood plains “had to stop and they stop today”.

Guess what? No developments on the floodplains of Yamba stopped on August 19 and none have stopped since August 19. In fact, another one was given the green light by the NSW Northern Region Planning Panel on Wednesday, October 26. 

The Planning Panel, consisting of State government appointed members Paul Mitchell, Penny Holloway and Stephen Gow, and Clarence Valley representatives Mayor Ian Tiley and Deputy Mayor Greg Clancy voted 3:2 in favour of the application. No prizes for correctly guessing how individual members voted.

Premier Perrottet, words are cheap.

Facta Non Verba.

Col Shephard, Yamba